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MY    OFFICIAL    WIFE 


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BY 


Col.  RICHARD  HENRY  SAVAGE 


NEW   YORK 

THE    HOME    PUBLISHING   COMPANY 

3  East  Fourteenth  Street 
i8qi 


0  1^^*4 


Copyright,  i8gi,  by 
By    a.    C.    GUNTER. 

All  rights  reserved. 


Press  of  J.  J.  Little  &  Co. 
Astor  Place,  New  York 


ARCHIBALD  CLAYERIN6  GUNTER'S 

Celebrated  Novels. 

MR.  BARNES  OF   NEW  YORK. 

MR.  POTTER  OF  TEXAS, 

THAT  FRENCHMAN! 

MISS  NOBODY   OF    NOWHERE. 

Story  for  Children  of  All  Ages. 
SMALL  BOYS  IN  BIG  BOOTS. 

ILLUSTRATED. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  I. 


THE    OFFICIAL    WEDDING. 

PAGE. 

Chapter         I. — The  Bride, 7 

"  11. — "  What  would  Dick  Gaines  say  to 

this?"            ...         .  19 

"            III. — Miss  Vanderbilt-Astor,  -         -         -  31 

"             IV. — Baron  Friedrich,        -         -         -  41 

<^              V. — La  Belle  Americaine,    -         -         -  55 

**            VI. — My  Wedding  Dinner,        .         -  74 

BOOK   II. 

A    HORRIBLE    HONEYMOON. 

Chapter   VII. — Opening  Joys,      -        -        -         -  84 

"        VIII. — I  Lunch  with  Baron  Friedrich,  100 

**            IX. — Society  Fetes  the  Bride,        -         -  115 

"             X. — Naughty  Sacha,       -        -        -  131 

'<           XL— The  Pocket  in  the  Ball-dress,         -  149 

XII.— The  Ignatief's  Ball,          -         -  162 


vi  CONTENTS. 


BOOK    III. 


DISSOLVING    THE    BONDS. 

PAGE 

Chapter  XIII. — The  Massage  of  Hate,-        -  -  177 
XIV.— The  Rat-trap  Closes,        -         -  185 
"          XV.— Which  Brother?    -         -        -  -  195 
"        XVI.— The  Last  Coup  of  the  Despair- 
ing Rat,            -         -         -  -  212 
"       XVII. — At  the  Opera  in  Paris,     -         -  226 


MY  OFFICIAL  WIFE. 


BOOK    I. 

The  Official  Wedding. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   BRIDE. 

We  all  shivered  in  the  chilly  winter  air  as  the 
clicking  wheels  sped  along  over  the  plains  of  East- 
ern Prussia.  Our  fast  express  was  approaching 
grim  old  Konigsberg.  Farm  and  village,  wood  and 
brook,  marsh  and  river,  flew  by  in  a  sort  of  wild 
dance. 

Wrapped  in  rugs,  snugly  ensconced  in  the  well- 
padded  little  compartments,  our  polyglot  passen- 
gers dozed,  smoked,  grumbled,  or  chatted  freely,  as 
the  varying  spirits  of  the  motley  assemblage  dic- 
tated. I  had  seen  few  of  my  co^nrades  de  voyage^ 
as  the  cross-divisions  of  the  Httle  cars  prevent  in 
Germany  our  American  excursions  of  discovery 
through  the  train. 

The  unusual  hour  of  midnight  is  selected  for  de- 
spatching  the  "  Schnell-zug  "  from    Berlin  for  St. 


8  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Petersburg.  In  this  I  had  realized  the  haughty 
scorn  of  the  German  railroad  bureaucracy  for  pop- 
ular comfort. 

Bustling  to  the  Friedrichstrasse  station,  the  half 
hour  before  departure  had  given  me  only  time  to 
telegraph  my  friends  at  the  Russian  capital  of  my 
leaving  BerHn,  and  to  secure  a  through  billet  via 
Eydtkuhnen  to  the  new  Paris  on  the  banks  of  the 
Neva.  However,  a  night  in  a  luxurious  first-class 
carriage  was  no  hardship  to  an  old  campaigner. 

My  preparations  for  the  invasion  of  Russia  were 
a  good  rug,  a  bunch  of  the  least  atrocious  of  various 
nicotian  horrors  on  sale,  some  Tauchnitz  reprints, 
and  a  few  French  romances  as  a  sauce  piquante  to 
•the  rest.  A  capacious  "  Sinners'  Friend  "  was  filled 
and  carefully  tucked  in  the  pocket  of  my  warm  Irish 
frieze  ulster.  It  was  mid-October,  and  in  the  moon- 
light the  thin,  stormy  fields  looked  starved,  dug,  and 
frozen  out  of  all  life.  My  immediate  travelling  com- 
panions were  two  handsome,  stalwart,  white-handed, 
jewelled-fingered  Russian  officers,  returning  to  their 
native  land  after  visiting  entrancing  Paris,  so  be- 
loved by  the  Russ  on  his  vacation. 

Making  my  semi-bivouac  upon  the  wide,  soft 
seat  on  my  side  of  the  compartment,  I  soon  dropped 
into  slumber,  leaving  my  military  neighbors  dallying 
lazily  with  the  twisting  of  the  little  paper-tubed 
cigarettes,  chatting  about  "  shop,"  the  girls  they 
left  behind  them,  and  commenting  on  national  mat- 
ters with  the  daring  freedom  Russians  love  to  affect 
abroad — a  luxury  denied  them  at  home  under  the 
iron  rule  of  the  "  White  Czar." 

As  morning  dawned,  the  old  walls  of  Konigsberg 


MY   OFFICIAL    WIFE.  9 

(the  crowning  place  of  the  Prussian  kings)  opened 
to  us.  Through  fosse  and  ditch  we  threaded  heavily 
armed  outworks,  winding  slowly  into  the  heart  of 
the  last  principal  city  of  warlike  Prussia  near  the 
Muscovite  border. 

After  breakfast  my  military  companions  again 
betook  themselves  to  the  enjoyment  of  ''  baccarat," 
and  the  perpetual  sacred  fire  of  the  papyrus.  From 
their  conversation  I  discovered  them  to  be  Captain 
Gregory  Shevitch  and  Lieutenant  Alexis  Michaelo- 
vitch  of  the  ''  cream  of  the  service,"  the  Russian 
Imperial  Guard. 

In  the  characteristically  good  French  of  their  na- 
tion they  discussed  current  topics,  as  the  varying 
card  battle  decided  the  ultimate  disposition  of  any 
pocket  money  not  permanently  invested  in  Paris. 

Conning  my  book,  comforted  by  a  cigar,  their 
conversation  had  great  interest  for  an  American  ex- 
army  officer,  visiting  for  the  first  time  their  roman- 
tic land.  My  ears  were  open  as  I  listlessly  turned 
the  wearying  pages.  They  canvassed  the  recent 
appointment  of  a  redoubtable  ogre  of  official  malig- 
nity as  chief  of  the  Russian  Secret  Police. 

This  gentleman,  though  of  German  not  of  Slavic 
descent,  had  powers  unparalleled,  even  for  a  des- 
potic land.  From  his  concealed  eyrie  at  St.  Pe- 
tersburg this  Machiavelli  struck  by  invisible  hand 
everywhere.  His  high  rank,  plenary  authority,  and 
grave  functions  gave  him  untrammelled  access  to 
the  new  czar  ;  all  his  lightning  strokes  were  in  that 
august  name. 

"  Gregory,"  said  Alexis,  "  I  am  told  that  the  Nihil- 
ists are  very  active  now,  and  working  with  energy 


lO  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

to  reopen  their  mail  and  telegraph  communications, 
which  Loris  Melikoff  cut  off." 

"  That's  so,"  replied  Gregory  (as  he  gazed  on  his 
cards  with  the  money-grabbing  instinct  of  a  cun- 
ning Slav),  "  those  poor  devils  can't  get  over  our 
frontiers  without  a  close  shave  on  Siberia  for  life, 
or — something  worse.  The  new  head  of  the  police 
has  the  sagacity  of  a  Bismarck  and  the  cunning  of  a 
Vidocq." 

Gregory  rolled  his  cigarette  thoughtfully,  and 
murmured :  ''  They  must  make  a  desperate  attempt 
to  steal  over  in  some  queer  way  now.  It  is  necessary 
for  them  to  reopen  communication.  They  must 
establish  a  new  code  of  signals,  and  another  cipher, 
or  stop  their  conspiracy  forever.  They  have  plenty 
of  money  and  use  some  very  smart  agents." 

"■  True,"  rejoined  the  other  as  he  passed  the  deal. 
'■'■  My  uncle  (the  ambassador)  tells  me  some  of  our 
telegraph  corps  are  members  of  their  order,  and  are 
invaluable  to  their  schemes." 

"■  No  matter  how  smart  they  are,"  replied  Gregory, 
**  the  new  chief  of  police  is  a  little  smarter.  He 
will  ultimately  bag  them  all." 

"  That  is,  if  they  don't  assassinate  him  first,"  said 
Alexis,  passing  over  to  his  victorious  comrade  a 
handful  of  crisp  notes  (with  a  muttered  curse), 
luck  being  heavily  against  him. 

Gregory  laughed,  as  he  complacently  counted  and 
pocketed  the  roubles:  ''The  Nihilists  will  hardly 
be  luckier  than  you,  old  fellow !  You  remember 
Princess  Troubetskoi's  pretty  salon  in  Paris?" 

Alexis  smiled  and  stroked  his  blond  mustache 
lovingly,  in  memory  of  past  conquests. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  II 

I  wondered  if  stolen  kisses  still  lingered  on  the 
handsome  warrior's  lips. 

**  Well,"  continued  the  captain,  "  many  a  fat  pack- 
age of  blue  bills  of  the  Banque  de  France  has  passed 
to  those  jewelled  white  hands  from  the  ^  Haute  Direc- 
tion.' She  furnishes  transcripts  of  their  perfected 
plans.  I  am  even  told  that  she  has  obtained  such 
information  as  will  result  very  shortly  in  the  capture 
of — "  Here  he  looked  suspiciously  at  me,  lowered 
his  voice,  and  whispered  a  few  words  I  could  not 
hear  to  his  companion. 

*'  By  Saint  Vladimir  !  "  cried  Alexis,  ''  the  woman 
the  whole  force  have  been  trying  to  capture  since 
the  death  of  our  dear  old  emperor?  If  they  catch 
her  she  will  be  a  dainty  morsel  for  the  executioner. 
They  say  she  is  lovely  as  an  angel ! " 

"Ah  !  "  rejoined  Captain  Gregory,  with  a  longing 
look  upon  his  Tartar  face.  "  In  that  case  I  wouldn't 
mind  being  /e  maitre  des  epaules  myself.  The  mili- 
taires  busied  themselves  with  their  preparations,  as 
we  were  nearing  the  last  frontier  town. 

*'  Brutes  !  "  thought  I,  *'  I  shall  soon  be  rid  of 
your  detestable  company,  with  its  croaking  refrain 
of  intrigue  and  horror,"  and  turned  back  to  my 
novel,  for  I  had  no  personal  misgivings  on  entering 
Russia. 

I  was  the  happy  possessor  of  passports,  carefully 
vised,  "  en  regie,''  at  the  Russian  Embassy  at  Paris. 
I  also  carried  the  warmest  credentials  to  my  rela- 
tive by  marriage,  Constantine  Weletsky,  one  of  the 
councillors  of  the  czar,  once  a  court  page  of  the  late 
revered  empress,  now  high  in  favor  with  the  imperial 
family. 


12  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

This,  with  other  special  letters  of  introduction, 
would  open  to  me  the  "  charmed  circle  "  of  St. 
Petersburg;  for  my  daughter  had  married  Weletsky's 
only  brother,  Basile,  a  gallant  young  officer,  who 
had  led  a  battalion  into  the  Grivitska  crater  at 
Plevna,  and  then  had  died  far  away  in  the  Orient, 
leaving  his  girl  widow  with  a  little  fatherless  infant. 

My  daughter  had  met  and  been  married  to  this 
gentleman  in  Japan. 

It  was  in  her  interest,  and  to  see  her  again,  I 
was  visiting  Russia  for  the  first  time. 

I  had  left  my  wife  in  Paris.  She  dreaded  the  rigors 
of  a  semi-arctic  winter,  and  awaited  my  report  ere 
deciding  to  visit  our  child,  who  had  only  spent  a 
few  weeks  with  us  in  America,  and  then  hastened 
to  a  new  home  and  strange  but  kindly  relatives  on 
the  death  of  her  husband  in  the  Russian  service  in 
Asia. 

Clanging  bells  and  shrieking  whistles  announced 
our  arrival  at  Eydtkuhnen,  the  frontier  of  Holy 
Russia.  Here  the  road  changes  to  a  six-foot  gauge, 
so  as  to  prevent  any  sudden  invasion.  This  forces 
an  inevitable  delay  in  transferring  from  the  standard 
gauge  at  the  Russian  frontier. 

Two  hours  and  a  half  are  allotted  for  the  inspec- 
tion of  baggage  and  passports. 

At  this  town  is  drawn  the  line  between  the  do- 
mains of  his  august  majesty  of  Germany,  and  those 
of  his  "  loving "  (?)  imperial  brother  of  Russia. 
Painted  posts  in  the  national  colors,  double-sided, 
impress  silence,  discretion,  and  political  prudence 
on  the  passing  traveller.  This  warning  is  heightened 
by  the  presence  of  armed   soldiers  pacing  on   par- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


13 


allel  lines  a  few  yards  apart.  In  the  differing  uni- 
forms of  the  above-named  august  personages,  fierce 
warriors  glare  at  each  other  jealously  on  their  sentry 
beats,  and  face  about  with  a  catchy  snap  and  wooden 
jerk  suggestive  of  toy  soldiers. 

A  splendid  masonry  international  station  and  cus- 
tom house,  with  a  superb  restaurant,  on  the  Russian 
side  of  the  frontier,  greeted  my  hungry  eyes.  Madly 
did  I  sigh  for  the  last,  for  lo  !  hunger  was  upon  me, 
and  mightily  did  I  crave  food. 

Alas !  the  line  of  divided  empire  was  visibly 
marked  by  a  grillage  of  hammered  iron,  which  made 
my  passport  to  ''  Russia  "  and  ''  dinner"  one  and  the 
same. 

Guards  with  sword  and  revolver  belted  on  stood 
at  the  gates,  ready  to  arrest  the  audacious  who 
might  try  to  run  the  gauntlet. 

A  hundred  hungry  voyagers,  we  were  penned  in 
an  ante-room  and  ordered  to  prepare  our  passports 
and  luggage  for  inspection. 

All  was  grave  command  and  stern  discipline,  and 
the  necessary  delay  was  so  tedious  my  inner  man 
reminded  me  forcibly  of  the  neglected  **  Department 
of  the  Interior." 

Waiting  to  cross  the  gulf  which  separated  me  from 
that  blessed  repast,  I  produced  my  papers  and  keys 
while  eying  the  curious  throng  of  travellers.  We 
were  all  huddled  together.  Countesses  in  furs  and 
velvets,  pert  French  maids,  substantial-looking 
burghers,  "impossible"  dudes,  filthy  Polish  Jews 
with  curls  and  greasy  gabardines,  money-changers, 
peasants,  soldiers,  and  tourists  made  up  a  queer 
human  melange. 


14  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Haughty  officers  strode  around,  ogling  the  fairest 
of  our  lady  passengers  and  ostentatiously  clanking 
their  trailing  sabres. 

Pushed  up  for  official  examination,  I  showed  my 
passport  with  the  American  eagle  displayed.  A 
bearded  colonel,  bespecked  with  crosses  and  medals, 
took  it.  He  genially  broke  out :  '*  Amerikansky — 
good  !  " 

As  he  said  this  I  did  not  regret  the  five  dollars 
paid  at  the  State  Department  for  the  paper.  The 
clerk  had  inserted  upon  it  the  name  of  my  wife,  in 
case  she  might  travel  with  me,  although  she  also 
had  obtained  an  individual  passport  that  she  re- 
tained with  her  in  Paris. 

I  was  pointed  toward  the  baggage  inspector  and 
passed.  Already  several  suspected  ones  had  been 
rejected  for  irregularity  in  their  documents.  They 
were  holding  an  impromptu  indignation  meeting. 
As  I  folded  up  my  precious  ^*  open  sesame  "  to  the 
blessed  Russian  restaurant,  I  was  happy ;  my  impa- 
tient appetite  was  about  to  be  appeased. 

Suddenly  I  was  aware  of  a  sweet  and  womanly 
presence  by  my  side. 

A  rich,  pleasantly  modulated  voice  said  in 
choicest  English  :  "  I  beg  your  pardon.  May  I  speak 
to  you,  sir  ?" 

The  lady  addressing  me  was  indeed  very  young 
and  very  fair  to  the  eyes  of  an  old  campaigner  ;  for, 
like  most  old  war-horses,  I  am  somewhat  susceptible 
to  beauty  in  women.  Dress  and  belongings  be- 
spoke the  lady. 

As  I  gazed  her  manner  showed  me  she  was  so 
innocent  and  inexperienced   that    her   helplessness 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


15 


appealed  to  a  man  of  the  world  like  myself.  Her 
liquid  dark  eyes  were  anxious,  her  pretty  coral  lips 
were  trembling  nervously  ;  these,  with  rippling  brown 
hair,  ornamented  a  delicate  and  lovely,  though  per- 
haps proud  face,  making  a  rare  picture.  Her  man- 
ner was  almost  childish,  but  her  figure  seemed  too 
developed  for  extreme  youth.  The  swelling  outlines 
of  her  exquisite  form  showed  to  perfection  in  a  dark 
brown  suit,  betraying  Redfern  in  its  cut  and  Russia 
in  its  sable  trimmings. 

Pretty  hands  nestled  in  a  muff,  beseeching  eyes 
pleaded  under  the  jaunty  little  turban,  and  dainty 
feet  peeped  in  and  out  in  high  Polish  boots. 

I  lifted  my  hat  to  the  unknown  elegante,  smiling 
in  my  exceptional  Sunday-school  manner,  and  re- 
marked :  *'  Certainly,  madame  !  " 

''A  fair  countrywoman,"  thought  I,  yet  the 
silken  "  shuba  "  on  her  graceful  shoulders  seemed  to 
have  a  local  luxury  in  its  blue  fox  lining. 

*'  Give  me  your  arm,  pray.  We  will  walk  a 
little  so  as  not  to  attract  attention,"  whispered  this 
fair  bird  of  passage,  with  a  light  tremor  in  her 
voice. 

*'  I  hope  she  will  make  it  short,  whatever  be  the 
burden  of  her  song,"  I  thought,  for  I  heard  the 
cheerful  music  of  the  knife  and  fork  just  across 
the  Russian  boundary  and  could  see  the  swallow- 
tailed  waiters  flying  around  ;  the  first  "  convives  " 
having  passed  the  sentinels  at  the  gates  of  that 
epicurean  paradise. 

"  I  am  an  American  going  to  Russia,"  she  began, 
"  to  join  my  husband,  who  has  preceded  me.  He 
had  one  passport  for  us  both  ;  now  I  unexpectedly 


l6  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

find  out  that  I  cannot  get  over  the  frontier.  I 
don't  know  what  to  do  ! " 

As  she  said  this  the  gentle  pressure  of  her  arm 
thrilled  me;  her  voice  had  a  musical  undertone, 
"like  the  leafy  brook  singing  away  in  June." 

"  I  am  certainly  very  sorry,"  I  murmured.  **  But 
how  can  I  help  you  ?  I  know  no  one  here.  I  am 
only  an  American  traveller,  without  official  position. 
I  am  a  retired  army  officer  going  to  meet  friends  in 
St.  Petersburg." 

I  brought  this  remark  out  with  an  air  of  inno- 
cence. I  had  passed  "  mes  beaux  jours,''  and  knew 
these  little  affairs  were  often  very  delicate. 

"  But  I  noticed  you  had  no  lady  with  you,  and 
as  you  took  your  passport  from  the  officer,  I  saw  it 
read,  '  AND  WIFE.'  " 

'*  Certainly  !  "  said  I,  perhaps  a  little  impatiently, 
for  the  vigorous  clatter  of  the  knives  and  forks 
showed  me  that  the  meal  I  so  ardently  coveted  was 
rapidly  disappearing  across  the  barrier  over  in  Russia. 

Balancing  on  her  pretty  toes,  she  clasped  her 
hands  on  my  arm  ;  looking  up,  she  murmured,  with 
a  meaning  pressure  of  my  arm  :  '*  You  will  take  me 
over  the  frontier  diS  your  wife  ?  " 

''  Great  Heavens  !  "  I  exclaimed,  "  but  my  wife?  " 
For  Mrs.  Lenox  is  at  times  inclined  to  be  jealous. 
And  all  the  while  the  hunger  fiend  gnawed  within 
me  like  a  rat  in  an  empty  raisin  box. 

**I  beg  you  ;  I  beseech  you  !  "  she  continued,  her 
sweet  voice  ranging  through  its  wonderful  minor 
chords.  ''  Don't  leave  me  here.  I  must  cross  this 
frontier  now.  I  am  already  regarded  as  your  wife. 
Why,  they  did  not  even  ask  me  for  a  passport." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  \J 

"  My  wife !  "  This  was  a  gasp  of  astonishment 
from  me. 

"  Certainly  ;  the  chief  inspector  assumed  I  was 
your  wife.  You  are  my  countryman.  Take  me 
to  Wilna !  I  will  leave  you  there.  My  husband 
is  in  Wilna  and  will  thank  you  there."  And  she 
clung  to  me  in  childish  anxiety. 

My  head  was  confused,  but  my  nerves  were  tin- 
gling, my  heart  was  beating  high  at  her  touch. 
Many  a  time  had  I  stood  in  before  for  pretty 
women  in  my  world  wanderings. 

A  howl  from  the  Muscovite  baggage  smasher 
aroused  me  to  action.  Our  luggage  remained 
alone  on  the  high  zinc  counter.  Nearly  all  the 
other  passengers  had  gone  away. 

The  colonel  in  charge  was  entering  the  ^'  salle  a 
manger."  He  gave  a  passing  Parthian  glance  of 
admiration  at  the  beautiful  creature  on  my  arm, 
and  murmured  :    "  La  belle  Americaine." 

*'  You  must  not  leave  a  countrywoman  in  such 
an  embarrassing  position  !  Why,  they  might  even 
arrest  me  !  "     This  with  an  innocent  little  shudder. 

I  threw  my  keys  to  the  inspector,  gazing  at  the 
beautiful  pleader  at  my  side  in  hesitation. 

Where  was  I  drifting?  I  stood  dazed  while  the 
searcher  hastily  threw  over  my  Spartan  outfit. 

The  perfumed  breeze  gently  wafted  odors  of 
Mocha  and  good  cheer  through  the  guarded  gates. 

*'  You'll  have  to  excuse  me  !  "  My  voice  sounded 
harsh  and  hollow. 

The  bearded  official  cast  his  eye  on  the  lady's 
extensive  belongings.     I  must  decide  instantly  ! 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  don't  leave  me  here  help- 

2 


1 8  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

less,"  she  implored,  a  look  of  alarm  in  her  beautiful 
eyes.  As  she  spoke  she  quietly  handed  me  her  keys. 
I  mechanically  dropped  them  in  the  open  paw  of  the 
hungry  official. 

Then,  repenting,  I  waved  my  hand  in  negation. 

''  You  would  surely  not  permit  such  a  contre- 
temps to  stop  my  journey  when  the  kindness  of 
mere  silence  will  permit  it  ?  "  she  tremblingly  whis- 
pered, and  her  wonderful  dark  eyes  plead  sadly 
with  me.  ^' Facilis  est  descensus  Averni."  I  felt,  I 
knew,  I  was  backsliding !  I  glanced  around.  If 
her  husband  and  my  wife  would  only  walk  in  !  No 
such  blessed  juncture  arrived. 

I  caught  the  eye  of  the  "  only  colonel "  fixed, 
inquiringly,  on  my  lovely  burden.  Did  he  suspect  ? 
He  must  not !  I  turned  savagely  to  the  custom- 
house man  and  asked  why  he  didn't  get  through 
that  baggage  quicker. 

All  this  time  the  great  clock  was  ticking  away 
a  ghastly  reminder  of  the  passing  moments.  The 
inspector  was  tumbling  over  Beauty's  treasures  in 
the  open  trunks. 

The  riches  of  her  boxes  transfixed  the  official. 

I  looked  with  pitiable,  inane  enjoyment  at  the 
assortment  of  mysterious  paraphernalia  and  woman 
gear  in  her  luggage.  Not  being  a  Worth,  a  Pingat, 
or  a  Jenness — Miller,  I  can't  go  into  details.  I  will 
candidly  admit  I  was  proud  of  the  lady's  outfit.  It 
was  worthy  of  a  duchess  in  the  delicacy  of  its 
laces  and  embroideries,  the  richness  of  its  silks, 
satins,  and  velvets,  and  elegance  of  its  little  slippers, 
bottines,  and  entrancing  foot-gear. 

The   very  sight    of   these    sent    a   strange    thrill 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I9 

through  my  susceptible  old  military  heart.  I  gazed 
at  the  lady  whose  loveliness  these  garments  would 
adorn.  She  clung  to  me,  a  picture  of  innocence, 
beauty,  and  suspense. 

The  examination  was  over ;  trunks  relocked  and 
hurried  away  to  the  train.  Mechanically  I  threw  a 
rouble  to  the  searcher,  who  flew  off  to  his  meal  like 
a  bird  let  loose  in  eastern  skies. 

The  clasp  upon  my  arm  grew  tighter,  and  the 
perfume  from  her  garments  floated  round  me ; 
mechanically  I  turned  my  head ;  her  eyes,  made 
more  beautiful  by  anxiety,  met  mine.  Her  figure 
swayed  and  tottered  and  leaned  against  mine. 
Good  heavens  !  she  was  about  to  faint. 

To  give  her  courage,  I  whispered  with  an  insane 
giggle  :    "  What  a  lovely  trousseau  you  have  !  " 

We  approached  the  grillage,  the  fair,  graceful, 
beautiful  stranger  clinging  closely  to  me,  but  seem- 
ing to  gain  strength  in  her  step. 

Unchallenged  we  passed  the  portals  and  stood 
together  in  "  Holy  Russia." 


CHAPTER    n. 

"  WHAT   WOULD   DICK   GAINES   SAY   TO   THIS  ?  " 

The  door  of  the  grillage  closed  behind  us  with  a 
crash,  we  being  the  last  of  the  throng  of  passengers. 
As  this  sound  came  to  my  ears  it  seemed  to  me 
the  little  hand  upon  my  arm  quivered  and  grew 
cold,  and  the  lady  beside  me  started  and  trembled. 
Looking  hurriedly  at  her,  I  saw  her  beautiful  face 


20  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

was  deathly  pale,  but  even  as  I  gazed  she  steadied 
herself  by  an  effort,  a  smile  played  about  her  lips 
and  eyes,  and  she  whispered :  **  Keep  my  keys, 
please ;  it  will  look  more  connubial."  This  with  a 
little  embarrassed  moue  that  set  my  heart  beating. 

"Of  course,  we  must  keep  up  the  comedy,  my 
dear,"  answered  I.  But  at  the  familiarity  of  my 
address  she  almost  drew  away  from  me,  and  a  big 
blush  chased  away  the  last  trace  of  her  pallor.  The 
blush  was  catching,  for  the  word  "■  dear "  set  my 
mind  upon  my  real  dear  one  in  Paris. 

Anxious  to  drive  such  thoughts  out  of  my  mind, 
and  hunger  giving  me  the  hint,  I  conducted  the  fair 
one  on  my  arm  into  the  restaurant.  This  was  filled 
with  passengers  hurriedly  disposing  of  their  dinner, 
as  if  anxious  to  get  once  more  en  route. 

There  were  vacant  seats  at  only  one  table — the 
one  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Russian  colonel,  who 
was  in  the  act  of  seating  himself. 

The  head  waiter  whispered  a  few  words  to  him, 
to  which  he  replied  with  a  smile.  We  were  ushered 
to  the  private  table  of  this  dignitary,  who  did  not 
seem  loth  to  bask  in  the  beauty  of  my  dazzling  com- 
panion. 

The  head  steward,  silver  chain  on  neck,  handed 
the  menu  and  wine  card  to  madame.  She  ordered 
with  the  easy  freedom  of  a  petted  wife,  and  then 
astounded  me  again  as  she  lisped :  *'  What  would 
you  Hke — Arthur?"  turning  a  red  but  piquant  face 
upon  her  plate  and  napkin. 

How  did  she  know  my  Christian  name  ?  A  mo- 
ment's reflection  suggested  that  perhaps  she  had 
seen  it  on  my  passport. 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  21 

Shortly  after,  the  colonel,  who  was  an  accom- 
plished master  of  languages,  presented  himself  to 
us  as  Ivan  Petroff,  and  while  I  attacked  the  Bur- 
gundy, roast  pheasant,  and  other  dainties  with  the 
vigor  the  imprisoned  demon  in  my  stomach  de- 
manded, my  protegee  chatted  gayly  with  the  Russian 
officer,  who  explained  to  us  that  he  was  chief  of 
the  Wilna  frontier  division  ;  remarking  that  he  was 
always  happy  to  see  Americans  in  Russia,  for  he 
knew  that  they  would  discover  with  their  own  eyes 
that  "  we  Russians  are  not  so  bad  as  we  are 
painted." 

This  had  hardly  left  his  lips  when  an  official 
stepped  up  to  him  and  saluted.  Then,  begging  us 
to  excuse  him  for  a  moment,  our  colonel  de- 
parted. 

As  he  did  so  I  turned  to  the  lady  at  my  side  and 
remarked  :  "You  have  called  me  Arthur.  In  order 
to  keep  up  this  petite  comedie,  tell  me  your  Chris- 
tian name,  quick,  before  the  Russian  returns." 

"  Certainly,"  she  remarked ;  "  my  first  name  is 
Helene." 

"  And  your  second  ?  " 

*'  Marie." 

*'  Helene  Marie — beautiful !  "  I  remarked.  "  And 
your  third  ?  " 

"  First  tell  me  what  is  yours,"  she  said.  "  I  read 
your  Christian  name  upon  your  passport,  but  your 
family  name  I  did  not  catch." 

"  Lenox,"  replied  I — "Arthur  Bainbridge  Lenox." 

At  this  announcement  she  seemed  to  start ;  but  a 
moment  after  she  said  with  an  embarrassed  smile  : 
"Then  my  name  must  be  Lenox.     For  the  present 


22  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

my  name  must  be  that  of  your  wife.  A  false  move 
now  would  more  than  embarrass  both  of  us,"  she 
went  on,  earnestly.     "  False  pass " 

She  cut  the  word  short  suddenly ;  Petroff  was 
reseating  himself  beside  her. 

As  he  did  so  he  remarked  :  *'  I  was  sorry  to  de- 
sert my  dinner,  but  more  sorry  to  desert  you,  ma- 
dame."  This  was  emphasized  by  a  telling  glance 
from  his  dark  Tartar  eyes  at  the  newly  christened 
*'  Helene  Marie  Lenox."  '*  But  it  was  a  matter  of 
passports  that  had  to  be  attended  to  at  once,"  he 
continued.  **  We  have  just,  I  am  happy  to  say, 
arrested  a  d^class^  vjh.o  was  travelling  under  forged 
papers." 

''False  passport — eh?"  remarked  my  fair  com- 
panion.    "  Man  or  woman  ?  " 

"  Man,"  was  Petroff's  sententious  reply. 

"  Yes ;  if  it  had  been  a  woman — a  beautiful 
woman — we  should  not  have  had  you  back  with 
us  so  soon,"  cried  Helene,  a  suspicion  of  coquetry 
in  her  smile. 

"  The  most  lovely  criminal  in  Russia  would  not 
have  kept  me  an  instant  longer,  madame,"  returned 
the  gallant  colonel,  admiration  in  his  eye,  flirtation 
in  his  manner. 

Notwithstanding  I  was  diligently  occupied  with 
my  knife  and  fork,  I  caught  this  glance,  and  some- 
thing of  the  feeling  of  a  husband  coming  into  me, 
I  turned  the  conversation  by  saying  carelessly  :  "  I 
presume  this  false  passport  business  is  an  every-day 
affair  in  Russia." 

"  By  no  means,"  remarked  Petroff ;  "  our  penalties 
for  the  offence  are  too  severe." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


23 


"Ah!  imprisonment  as  well  as  fine,"  said  I,  per- 
haps a  little  nervously. 

"  Yes,  imprisonment  for  life — Siberia,"  whispered 
the  colonel.  ''  Only  the  most  desperate  criminals 
risk  the  use  of  false  passports." 

My  knife  and  fork  fell  on  the  plate  with  a  crash. 

"  Try  some  of  this  mayonnaise,  Arthur,"  inter- 
posed the  putative  Mrs.  Lenox.  "  I  see  you  have 
finished  the  pheasant,  and  this  is  delightful.  Colo- 
nel Petroff  will  have  some  also."  And  she  gave  the 
salad  to  the  Russian  officer  with  such  a  dressing  of 
smiles  and  beauty  that  the  admiring  Russian,  look- 
ing only  at  her,  did  not  notice  my  loss  of  nerve- 
power  and  appetite  together  ;  for  these  remarks  had 
set  my  mind  moving  and  stopped  my  knife  and 
fork. 

"  False  passports — penalties — Siberia-^only  des- 
perate criminals  dare  to  use  them,"  buzzed  in  my 
brain. 

A  sudden  resolution  took  possession  of  me.  This 
dazzling  woman  was  making  me  a  Russian  criminal 
by  the  false  use  of  my  passport.  The  boundary 
line  of  Germany  was  but  fifty  feet  away.  I  would 
go  across  the  boundary  while  there  was  yet  time, 
and  dodge  the  clutches  of  the  Russian  bear. 

Excusing  myself  to  the  Circe  who  had  lured  me 
into  this  false  position,  and  who  was  very  innocently 
but  very  charmingly  chatting  to  the  colonel  over 
the  salad,  I  rose  from  the  table,  strode  out  of  the 
restaurant,  and  marched  for  the  door  of  the  grillage, 
now  fortunately  open. 

Germany  was  within  two  feet  of  me.  I  was  pass- 
ing hastily  through,  and  in  another  second  I  would 


24  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

have  been  away  from  danger  and  punishment,  when 
my  passage  was  suddenly  barred. 

An  official  voice  cried :  "  Halt  !  Your  passport 
to  leave  Russia." 

*'  Of  course,  I  have  no  passport  to  leave  Russia," 
I  said  to  him,  in  my  best  French.  "  You  saw  me 
enter  here  from  the  Berlin  train  not  fifteen  minutes 
ago.  I  wish  to  go  back  to  that  train.  I  have  for- 
gotten a  package.  It  is  very  important  and  I  can- 
not leave  it  behind  me." 

"Without  a  passport  it  is  impossible  for  you  to 
leave  the  dominions  of  the  czar,"  replied  the  official 
in  firm  politeness. 

"  But  I  must  go.     I  cannot  lose  that  package." 

"  Impossible  !  " 

I  looked.  It  was  impossible !  The  crossed  bay- 
onets of  two  sentries  in  front  of  me  told  me 
that. 

"  However,  monsieur's  difficulties  can  be,  perhaps, 
surmounted,"  remarked  the  official  Cerberus.  He 
whispered  a  few  words  to  an  attendant  on  the  other 
side  of  the  boundary.  The  next  minute  the  con- 
ductor of  the  train  in  which  I  had  travelled  from 
Berlin  stood  in  front  of  me  on  the  German  side  of 
the  frontier. 

"  If  monsieur  will  give  a  description  of  the  article, 
I  will  find  it  if  possible,"  said  the  conductor,  politely, 
**  and  forward  it  to  St.  Petersburg."     ' 

There  was  nothing  for  me  but  to  continue  to  lie. 
I  gave  the  inquisitive  guard  a  description  of  the 
imaginary  package,  also  my  address,  and  charged 
him  to  be  very  careful  to  have  it  sent  after  me 
immediately. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  25 

To  lull  suspicion,  I  pressed  a  German  thaler  into 
his  hand. 

"  Monsieur  can  rely  upon  receiving  his  package 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  his  arrival  at  Eng- 
lish Quai,  No.  5,  St.  Petersburg,"  returned  the  Ger- 
man conductor,  with  grateful  eyes  at  my  liberality. 

"  Many  thanks  for  your  official  kindness,"  I  said, 
with  a  smile  on  my  face  and  curse  in  my  heart,  to 
the  Russian  officer  who  had  barred  my  passage ;  for 
I  felt  myself  in  the  clutches  of  Russian  bureau- 
cracy, and  made  up  my  mind  to  be  polite,  perhaps 
even,  if  necessary,  obsequious  to  its  power. 

Then  I  turned  slowly  toward  the  restaurant.  It 
was  now  necessary  for  me  to  take  my  seat  at  the 
table  alongside  of  my  fellow-criminal  and  play  out 
the  comedy  to  the  sweet  or  bitter  end. 

A  horrible  presentiment  at  this  moment  struck 
me  that  the  end  would  be  bitter,  for  the  first  ex- 
citement of  the  adventure  being  over,  conscience 
rose  up  and  rapped  me  fearfully. 

Here  was  I — 

"  With  one  wife  at  Natchez  under  the  hill, 
Another  at  home,  in  Pike." 

What  would  my  own  dear  wife  in  Paris  say  if  the 
little  adventure  I  was  now  engaged  in  should  ever 
come  to  her  ears.'^  How  her  honest  blue  eyes  would 
sparkle  and  flame  with  indignation  if  she  saw  me 
permitting  another  woman  to  claim  her  title ;  an- 
other woman  taking  her  place  by  my  side,  without 
contradiction  from  me — things  which  my  rash  step 
had  now  made  a  necessary  adjunct  to  my  safety. 

Even  as  I  thought  this,  her  farewell  words  in  Paris 
came  back  to  me. 


26  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

"  You  dear  old  Arthur,  remember  your  suscep- 
tible heart.  Do  not  let  your  military  gallantry  get 
you  into  scrapes.  Beware  of  beguiling  females.  Re- 
member how  you  were  arrested  for  smuggling  on  a 
transatlantic  steamer  on  our  last  trip  to  New  York, 
because  you  were  too  gallant  to  refuse  your  arm  and 
the  protection  of  your  escort  across  the  gang-plank 
to  a  pretty  French  milliner,  who  gave  you  a  package 
to  carry.  Remember  what  the  papers  said  about 
your  embarrassing  position." 

Here  was  I  in  a  much  more  embarrassing  position. 
In  the  United  States  the  doom  of  the  smuggler  is 
light.  In  Russia  the  doom  of  the  false  passport 
bearer  is  heavy. 

With  a  muttered  curse  I  returned  to  my  dinner. 
As  I  entered  the  restaurant  I  noticed  Helene  was 
gazing  anxiously  at  the  entrance.  Though  convers- 
ing with  the  colonel,  she  was  evidently  thinking  of 
me,  and  gave  a  suppressed  sigh  of  reHef  as  I  seated 
myself  beside  her.  My  appetite  had  disappeared, 
but  anxiety  made  me  thirsty.  I  put  aside  the  Bur- 
gundy and  desperately  applied  myself  to  cognac. 

My  putative  wife's  manner  to  me  was  perfection. 
In  matter-of-fact  tenderness  she  inquired :  ^'  What 
horrid  railroad  difficulty  took  you  from  me  and 
your  dinner  at  the  same  time,  dear  Arthur?  " 

To  which  I  muttered:  ''  Luggage  and  reserve  com- 
partment, my  own  one,"  assuming  in  my  manner 
a  tenderness  I  by  no  means  felt ;  for  her  persua- 
sive fascinations  had  put  me  into  a  compromising 
situation  both  as  regards  my  wife  in  Paris  and  the 
police  in  Russia. 

The  gallant  official  at  Helene's  elbow  here  unbent 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  2/ 

himself  with  the  courteous  versatility  marking  the 
high-bred  Russian.  Hearing  my  statement,  he  told 
me  to  have  no  anxiety  as  to  my  accommodations  on 
the  train  ;  he  would  have  the  pleasure  of  going  up 
the  road  some  distance  on  an  inspection  of  his  dis- 
trict, and  he  had  charged  himself  with  getting  the 
best  compartment  for  my  wife  and  me.  A  word  from 
him  would  insure  every  possible  attention. 

Then  he  graciously  rallied  us  on  madame's  appar- 
ent anxiety  for  me,  stating  that  the  moment  I  left 
the  table,  my  wife  had  listened  to  him  only  with 
half  an  ear,  and  once  or  twice,  he  had  noticed,  had 
been  on  the  point  of  rising  to  follow  me ;  closing  his 
remarks  by  a  pretty  French  couplet  on  love,  and 
laughing:  "On  your  wedding  tour,  I  presume?"  as 
he  lifted  his  glass  to  the  health  of  madame. 

She  blushingly  smiled  at  me,  and  cried,  in  innocent 
naivete,  reproachfully  to  him  :  ''  Oh,  colonel !  We 
have  been  married  years — and  years !  " 

*'  I  can  compliment  monsieur,"  said  the  Russian. 
*'  He  has  not  lost  the  lover  in  the  husband."  Then 
the  tawny  Colossus  sighed,  apparently  envying  me 
the  possession  of  the  beautiful  creature  he  thought 
my  wife,  who,  perhaps  catching  the  idea  in  his  mind, 
appeared  so  embarrassed  that  he  cried  out :  "  You 
are  joking  with  me  ;  such  blushes  are  only  seen  on 
brides'  faces,"  and  continued,  to  my  embarrassment : 
*'  You  go  to  St.  Petersburg,  I  presume,  for  the  sea- 
son.    I  hope  to  meet  you  there  this  winter." 

To  this  my  protegee  only  replied  with  her  eyes, 
and  I  groaned  inwardly. 

Great  Scott  !  suppose  the  colonel  should  stay 
on  the  train.     A  cold  chill  ran  through  me  at  the 


28  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

thought.  Then  I  could  not  leave  the  lady  at 
Wilna. 

The  first  bell  rang.  Our  new-made  friend  saun- 
tered away  on  courtesy  bent.  He  was  evidently  im- 
pressed by  my  wife's  social  elegance.  I  had  also 
tried  to  live  up  to  my  *' blue  china"  in  my  brief 
entree  into  official  Russian  society. 

Then  I  turned  to  her  sternly. 

*'  My  dear  young  lady,"  I  whispered,  "  you  are 
increasing  the  difficulty  of  our  position.  You  have 
let  this  man  imagine  we  are  going  to  St.  Petersburg." 

"  I  have  not  denied  it,"  she  replied,  with  reproach- 
ful lips,  *'  because  I  knew  he  had  seen  your  ticket 
to  the  capital.  How  could  I  tell  this  colonel,  who 
thinks  me  your  wife,  I  was  going  to  leave  you  at 
Wilna?  My  anxiety  while  you  were  away  from  me 
probably  makes  him  consider  me  still  romantically 
attached  to  you." 

''  Your  anxiety,"  I  echoed,  "  while  /  was  away 
from  you  ?  "  some  extraordinary  emotion,  half 
ecstatic  joy,  half  idiotic  sorrow,  flying  through  me  ; 
for  her  eyes,  though  sad  and  reproachful,  were  beau- 
tiful as  a  pouting  naiad's. 

'*  Yes,"  she  said,  interrupting  me.  "  I  knew  you 
were  attempting  to  recross  the  frontier.  I  did  not 
dare  to  follow  after  you  to  plead  with  you.  That 
might  have  aroused  the  colonel's  suspicions  ;  but  if 
you  had  succeeded  by  a  miracle  in  crossing  into 
Germany,  you  would  have  left  me  in  the  most  em- 
barrassing position  a  lady  was  ever  placed  in.  I 
should  have  been  in  Russia  without  a  passport ;  a 
'  declass^e,'  subject  to  arrest  and  confinement  by 
the  first  policeman  that  might  meet  me.     You  were 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  29 

about  to  desert  me  in  this  foreign  land,  taking  away 
the  passport  that  is  my  safety  as  well  as  yours. 
While  you  were  travelling  safely  toward  Berlin  I 
should  have  been  immured  in  a  Russian  jail." 

Then  she  said  sadly :  "  Do  you  think  this  is  the 
way  Dick  Gaines  would  like  you  to  treat  his  wife  ?  " 

"  Dick  Gaines  !  "  I  gasped. 

*'  Yes,"  she  replied,  "  Dick  Gaines,  your  old 
chum  at  West  Point  in  '68.  I  have  heard  my  hus- 
band talk  about  you  by  the  hour,  Arthur  Bainbridge 
Lenox !  When  you  told  me  your  name  a  few 
minutes  ago,  then  I  remembered  all  Dick  had  ever 
said  of  you.  I  should  not  have  informed  you  who  I 
am  until  we  arrived  at  Wilna,  and  I  placed  Dick's 
hand  in  yours ;  but  your  nervous  anxiety  being 
aroused  by  the  remarks  of  the  Russian  colonel  on 
false  passports,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  relieve  your  fears 
by  letting  you  know  that  you  cannot  get  into  very 
serious  trouble  by  taking  your  old  West  Point 
chum's  wife  to  him  at  Wilna." 

Relief  and  comfort  came  to  me  with  her  w^ords — 
but  brought  shame  to  me  as  well.  I  had  dared  to 
doubt  this  innocent  girl !  Dick  Gaines  was  my  old 
military  academy  chum.  Though  I  had  lost  sight  of 
him  for  the  last  few  years,  I  had  heard  that  he  was 
engaged  in  some  coal-oil  investigation  at  Baku.  This 
made  it  natural  for  him  to  be  in  Russia. 

Perhaps  some  of  my  self-reproach  got  into  my 
eyes,  for  the  lady  said,  with  a  riant  voice  and  laugh- 
ing eye  :  "  What  did  you  think  me,  an  adventur- 
ess, a — a  Nihilist  ?  Come,  confess — what  did  you 
imagine  Dick  Gaines's  wife  ?  " 

"  That  is  best  explained  by  saying  that  I  think 


30  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Dick  Gaines  the  happiest  of  men,"  cried  I,  free  and 
confident  now. 

It  would  now  be  easy  for  me  to  explain  to  my 
wife  how  I  had  helped  my  chum  Dick  Gaines's  wife 
out  of  a  fix.  I  looked  upon  her  with  pleasant  eyes 
as,  passing  me  a  lovely  little  porte-7no?inaie,  she  said  : 
"  Please  buy  me  a  ticket  to  St.  Petersburg." 

"You  stop  at  Wilna,"  stammered  I. 

"Yes,  I  stop  at  Wilna,  but  the  colonel  must 
think  that  I  accompany  you  to  the  Russian  capital. 
You  remember  he  imagines  I  am  your  wife.  I  have 
not  dared  to  take  Colonel  Petroff  into  my  confi- 
dence as  regards  Dick  Gaines,"  said  my  quick-witted 
partner  with  a  roguish  smile. 

So  I  stepped  out  and  bought  a  ticket  for  my  pretty 
protegee  with  her  own  money,  for  the  pocket-book 
she  had  handed  me  was  full  of  hundred  rouble  notes, 
sending  a  despatch  to  Paris  also  to  my  wife's  bankers. 
Though  I  had  entire  confidence  that  any  explana- 
tion with  regard  to  Dick  Gaines's  wife  would  be  per- 
fectly satisfactory,  still  I  had  only  dared  write  my 
home  fairy  : 

"  Eydtkuhnen.     Arrived  all  right." 

Addressed  simply,  "  Lenox,  care  Drexel,   Harjes  & 
Co.,  Paris." 

While  doing  this  the  blood  burned  in  my  cheeks 
when  I  reflected  that  I  dared  not  even  address  a  let- 
ter to  my  wife  till  out  of  the  extraordinary  compli- 
cation that  had  made  the  Russian  police  think  I  had 
another  in  the  land  of  the  czar. 

I  also  telegraphed  the  Weletskys  in  St.  Petersburg 
to  prepare  them  : 

"  Arrive  to-morrow  night,  seven  o'clock." 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


31 


Then,  quite  contented  in  my  mind,  which  I  was 
soothing  with  a  cigar,  I  strolled  into  the  restaurant, 
and  devotedly  carrying  a  little  satchel  belonging  to 
my  putative  spouse,  and  with  her  tender  clasp  upon 
my  arm,  I  escorted  her  to  the  train,  where  the  gallant 
Russian  functionary  was  standing  to  see  that  she  was 
obsequiously  welcomed,  and  shown  to  the  best  state- 
room in  the  broad,  roomy  cars. 

Here  with  honeymoon  devotion  I  arranged  her 
wraps  about  her  charming  figure,  and  cried  out 
gayly :  ''What  would  Dick  Gaines  say  to  this?" 

To  which  she  replied  with  a  fit  of  uncontrollable 
girlish  laughter — which  pleased  me  greatly.  What 
old  campaigner  does  not  like  to  have  his  jokes  appre- 
ciated ? 


CHAPTER  HI. 

MISS   VANDERBILT-ASTOR. 

Attracted  by  our  laughter,  the  colonel,  after  a 
knock  of  inquiry  on  the  door  of  our  compartment, 
entered  as  the  train  got  under  way. 

Looking  through  the  window  over  my  companion's 
pretty  shoulder,  my  first  peep  of  Russia  was  not  in- 
spiring. Out  through  the  Russian  half  of  the  border 
town  we  whirled,  clattering  away  on  that  line  road 
traced  by  the  impatient  finger  of  the  great  autocrat 
Nicolas.  The  landscape  gradually  changed.  Ger- 
man thrift  gave  way  to  Russian  slovenliness.  Low 
rolling  hills,  gloomy  birch  forests,  lonely  lakes,  chilly 
pools,  and  straggling  sedgy  marshes  made  up  a 
dreary  picture.     Every  few  minutes  we  ran  by  little 


32  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

villages,  each  a  score  of  squalid  log  huts,  with  sad- 
looking  cattle  wandering  around  over  the  frost-bitten 
fields.  Hulking  peasants  in  dirty  sheepskin  coats 
and  jack-boots  stared  after  us.  Onward  we  flew  ;  the 
crows  flapped  lazily  away  over  the  straggling  cabbage 
patches,  and  a  crisp,  sharp  air  penetrated  the  car. 
The  colonel  and  Helene  chatted  gayly,  while  I,  tak- 
ing my  gaze  from  the  uninspiring  picture  without, 
placed  it  upon  the  inspiring  one  within  and  thought 
my  putative  wife  prettier  than  ever. 

She  had  thrown  off  her  shuba,  and  thus  undraped, 
her  figure,  though  lithe  and  graceful,  seemed  to 
have  lost  the  slight  outlines  of  a  girl  in  the  more 
glorious  developments  of  a  woman.  Had  not  the 
almost  childish  innocence  of  her  face  contradicted 
it,  she  might  have  been  over  twenty-five.  Though 
talking  with  animation,  she  had  sunk  back  on  her 
luxurious  seat  as  if  fatigued,  perhaps  as  if  relieved 
from  some  strain  or  mental  excitement.'  Noting 
this,  I  attributed  it  to  her  anxiety  to  get  safely  across 
the  frontier,  and  the  worry  of  discovering  herself 
without  a  passport  under  such  circumstances. 

Meantime  the  colonel  delicately  broached  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sojourn  in  St.  Petersburg. 

**  Americans  of  your  class,"  he  remarked,  ''  always 
are  great  favorites  on  the  Neva.  You  will  enjoy  our 
capital.  Colonel  Lenox,  and  you,  madame,  will  enjoy 
it  more." 

"  Indeed,"  replied  Helene ; ''  and  why  ?  " 

"  Because,"  answered  the  colonel,  with  an  affable 
grin,  "we  have  many  gallant  young  officers  in  our 
capital.  Balis,  parties,  sleighrides  to  the  island,  with 
lots  of  attention  from  jingling  spurs,  handsome  epau- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  33 

lets,  and  drooping  mustachios,  always  make  a  para- 
dise for  women.  I  noticed  madame's  trunks.  She  is 
prepared  with  the  sinews  of  war.  She  has  not  for- 
gotten to  bring  her  ammunition  with  her  in  the 
shape  of  many  dresses  from  Parisian  milliners." 

These  remarks  about  luggage  set  my  mind  upon 
a  new  complication.  I  remembered  the  paper  tags 
for  ours.     They  give  no  separate  checks  in  Russia. 

Every  trunk  of  the  lady's  was  billed  to  St.  Peters- 
burg. When  I  left  her  with  her  husband  at  Wilna, 
I  could  see  new  lies  and  new  prevarications  awaited 
me — lots  of  them  ! 

The  colonel  went  chatting  along.  He  was  in- 
clined to  be  curious  as  to  , our  St.  Petersburg  ad- 
dress, hoping  he  might  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
us  on  his  visit  a  month  later  to  the  capital. 

As  his  questions  became  more  pointed,  I  was  sur- 
prised at  the  girlish  tact  with  which  my  supposed 
wife  parried  his  curiosity  by  polite  cnniii.  Her 
struggle  with  graceful  but  polite  yawns  was  so 
unmistakable  that  our  guest,  with  ''  savoir  faire^'' 
observed :  "  I  will  go  and  see  if  I  cannot  find  a 
partie  de  piquet ;  madame  needs  rest." 

As  the  door  closed,  turning  suddenly  to  Helene 
to  tell  her  of  the  new  complication  with  regard  to 
the  luggage,  I  got  a  start.  She  had  suddenly  gone 
to  sleep.     Beauty  sleep,  thought  I. 

Her  attitude  was  a  lovely  abandon.  Her  graceful 
head,  supported  by  a  pillow  of  blue,  was  slightly 
thrown  backward,  permitting  a  glimpse  of  her  lovely 
neck,  that  glistened  white  as  ivory  in  the  sunshine 
that  fell  about  her  through  the  car  window.  Her 
red  lips  slightly  parted  allowed  her  breath  to  sigh 


34  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

in  and  out  through  two  rows  of  pearls.  While  one 
little  foot  peeping  from  beneath  the  drapery  of  her 
skirt  gave  piquancy  and  charm  to  the  alluring 
picture. 

As  I  gazed,  I  envied  Dick  Gaines  more  than  ever. 

Such  perfect  rest  must  not  be  disturbed.  I 
saw  the  poor  child  needed  it  after  the  excitement 
of  the  last  two  hours,  and  cautiously  drawing  the 
curtain  of  the  window  partly  down,  cut  off  the  sun- 
light from  her  face,  then  turned  and  attempted  to 
take  this  picture  out  of  my  mind  by  a  novel.  French, 
piquant,  and  spicy  as  it  was,  it  held  me  by  the  slight- 
est thread.  From  its  pages  my  gaze  would  go  to  the 
sleeping  beauty, — this^woman  whom  I  was  taking 
to  her  husband, — my  old-time  West  Point  chum's 
wife.  I  must  think  of  her  loveliness  no  more.  I 
tried  to  drive  her  out  of  my  imagination  by  not 
looking  at  her,  by  even  thinking  of  my  wife  far 
away  in  Paris  ;  but  every  now  and  again  my  eyes 
would  return  to  the  fair  one  near  me. 

After  a  time,  as  I  gazed,  an  unconscious  move 
made  my  charmer's  attitude  more  beautiful  than 
ever.  Her  rounded  arm  was  lifted  unconsciously 
over  her  head  to  support  it.  The  little  foot  as- 
sumed an  easier  attitude  on  its  cushions  and  looked 
more  enticing  than  ever,  for  in  addition  a  most 
alluring  ankle  in  sheeny  pearly  silken  hose  was  added 
to  the  picture.  Her  breath  seemed  to  come  more 
softly  between  her  ruby  lips  ;  her  beauty  was  more 
dreamy  and  more  captivating.  Recollections  of 
"  Flirtation  Walk  "  at  old  West  Point  came  over 
me,  and  this  old  campaigner,  with  the  ardor  of  a 
first  classman,  pressed  a  light  kiss  on  the  fair  white 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


35 


forehead  before  him,  and  Beauty  awoke  with  a 
start. 

"  A  pair  of  gloves,"  laughed  I,  and  cried  :  "  What 
would  Dick  Gaines  say  to  this?" 

•'  That  you  deserved  it,"  she  said,  echoing  my 
laugh,  *'  you  have  taken  such  good  care  of  his  wife. 
Why,  I  feel  to  you  just  as  if  you  were — my 
brother."  Then,  catching  my  eye,  she  turned 
away  in  charming  confusion. 

Just  then  there  was  a  noise  outside.  It  was  the 
cursed  Russian  colonel  knocking  at  our  door. 

"  You  are  merry,"  said  he,  as  he  entered,  for  our 
laughter  had  reached  his  ears.  "  Let  me  join  in 
your  mirth."  And  he  proceeded  to  devote  himself 
to  Mrs.  Gaines  with  a  gallantry  that  enraged  me. 

"  Here,"  thought  I  ;  *'  I  owe  Dick  Gaines  a 
duty,"  a  spasm  of  virtuous  indignation  entering 
me.  "  I  must  protect  Dick  Gaines's  wife  from  this 
Russian  Don  Juan's  senile  adoration  !  "  The  con- 
tempt of  amorous  young  forty-five  for  attentive 
old  sixty  in  such  affairs  is  tremendous. 

To  head  my  rival  off,  I  indulged  in  a  tremendous 
flirtation  with  Mrs.  Gaines,  tendering  her  a  thou- 
sand and  one  little  attentions  of  devoted  husband- 
hood  with  more  than  a  husband's  general  fervor. 
I  insisted  that  her  pretty  feet  were  cold  and 
wrapped  them  up  in  my  travelling  rug.  I  refused 
to  believe  that  she  was  comfortable,  and  rearranged 
her  cushions  with  the  devotion  of  a  ten-minute 
married  man  ;  and  at  each  one  of  these  attentions 
I  cried  out :  "  What  would  Dick  Gaines  say  to 
this?"  in  a  manner  that  sent  the  dear  little  inno- 
cent into  fits  of  laughter,  and  very  much  astonished 


36  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

old  Petroff;  till  this  gentleman's  curiosity  over- 
coming his  Russian  politeness,  he  begged  to  know 
who  this  celebrated  Dick  Gaines  was. 

At  which,  being  in  a  laughing  mood,  I  informed 
him  that  Dick  Gaines  was  the  man  who  hit  "  Billy 
Patterson;"  and  explained  the  celebrated  Ameri- 
can joke  so  vividly  that  the  Russian  colonel  was 
delighted,  and  every  now  and  then  would  cry  out  : 
*' Who  hit  Bil-lee  Pat-ter-son?  Dick  Gaines,  he  hit 
Bil-lee  Patterson  !  What  would  Dick  Gaines  say 
to  this  ?  Ah,  ha !  ho,  ho ! "  and  gave  out  such 
Tartar  chuckles  that  Helene  and  I  joined  his  mirth, 
and  so  we  were  very  merry  as  the  lights  of  Kowno 
came  in  sight,  and  we  ran  into  the  railroad  station. 

The  Russian  cried  :  "  I  must  leave  you,  but  we 
have  time  for  refreshments.  You  take  tea  with  me. 
No  refusal,  my  dear  Colonel  Lenox.  You  and  ma- 
dame  are  my  guests  this  evening.^' 

"  Certainly,"  cried  madame.  She  accepted  his 
arm  lightly,  while  I  followed  after  them,  noting  that 
the  charming  figure  of  Mrs.  Dick  Gaines  was  very 
much  admired.  Her  beauty  had  that  wonderful 
charm  that  draws  the  eye  of  the  multitude  upon  it, 
and  as  we  entered  the  lighted  and  crowded  dining- 
room  many  stared  at  the  passing  charms  of  the  lady, 
and  glanced  in  envy  at  me,  her  gallant  husband. 

In  a  moment  my  frontier  queen  was  enthroned 
at  a  luxurious  table,  and  after  a  pleasant  supper 
our  host  offered  the  ever-ready  Russian  compli- 
ment, yellow-seal-cliquot,  and  drinking  solemnly 
to  the  health  of  madame,  said :  "  I  must  not  lose 
you  ;  I  can  endure  au  rcvoir,  but  an  adieu — that 
would  be  too  horrible!  " 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


37 


Here  was  I  face  to  face  with  a  new  dilemma.  In 
politeness  I  could  not  refuse  him  my  St.  Petersburg 
address.  He  would  visit  me  at  the  Russian  capital 
and  find  me  minus  the  attraction  that  inspired  his 
call — i.e.,  my  putative  wife,  the  adorable  Mrs.  Gaines. 
What  explanation  could  I  give  him  of  my  bereave- 
ment ? 

The  quick  innocence  of  Mrs.  Dick  saved  me.  She 
smiled  into  Petroff's  inquiring  face  and  remarked : 
*'  We  shall  be  delighted  to  see  you  at  the  '  Hotel 
de  I'Europe.'  Don't  forget  the  name,  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Arthur  Lenox  !  Put  it  down  in  your  pocket- 
book.     I — I'm  sure  you  will  forget  us  in  a  minute  !  " 

The  Tartar  eyes  told  her  that  he  would  remem- 
ber. 

"Forget  you,  madame?"  said  the  suave  soldier, 
as  he  rose.  "'  That  is  impossible.  You  do  not 
know  the  Russian  heart." 

"  Not  know  the  Russian  heart  !  "  cried  Helene, 
Vv^ith  a  blaze  in  her  eyes  that  astonished  me.  Then, 
with  a  quick  repression  that  astonished  me  more,  she 
lisped  in  her  naive,  childlike  voice :  "You  will  teach 
me  the  Russian  heart,  won't  you,  in  St.  Peters- 
burg?    We  can  return  your  hospitality  there." 

"  I  shall  have  the  honor  of  paying  my  respects  to 
you  soon  in  our  great  city,"  said  Colonel  Petroff, 
as  he  tossed  his  rich  cloak  over  his  arm,  grasped 
his  sabre,  and  kissed  madame's  hand  with  solemn 
grace. 

At  this  moment  the  bells  called  us  to  depart.  I 
offered  my  arm  to  fascinating  Mrs.  Dick,  and  Petroff, 
with  clanking  spurs  and  sabre,  escorted  us  to  the 
train.     A  hurried  farewell,  and  we  were  in  motion 


38  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

again,  the  enamoured  Russian  crying  after  us  :  "I 
s.hall  not  forget  Hotel  de  I'Europe!" 

*' '  Hotel  de  I'Europe  ' — I  shall  stay  with  my  rela- 
tive, Constantine  Weletsky,  English  Ouai,  No.  5, 
my  pretty  little  prevaricator,"  laughed  I,  with  a 
playful  squeeze  of  Helene's  delicate  hand.  I  was 
so  glad  we  had  at  last  dropped  the  persevering 
colonel  and  were  alone. 

''  You — you  are  connected  with  the  great  family 
of  the  Weletskys?"  said  my  companion,  contempla- 
tively, apparently  not  noticing  my  pressure. 

"  Certainly  ;  by  marriage." 

"  That  will  perhaps  aid—"  said  Mrs.  Gaines,  im- 
pulsively ;  then  she  suddenly  checked  herself  and 
cried  :  "  How  nice  to  be  rid  of  that  horrid  old  Rus- 
sian— you  and  I."  This  last  in  so  contented  a  tone 
that  I  blessed  the  moment  we  had  met,  and  whis- 
pered :  ''  Wasn't  it  lucky  Dick  had  gone  on  ahead, 
and  left  you  without  a  passport?  " 

''Hush!"  she  cried,  ''the  man  is  coming  to 
light  up."  Then  laid  a  warning  digit  upon  my  lips, 
and  together  we  sat  looking  out  of  the  car  windows 
as  the  guard  illuminated  our  compartment. 

We  were  in  rapid  motion  now,  and  twinkling  lights 
danced  merrily  by  as  we  tore  past  the  little  villages 
where  Russian  poverty  gathers  the  only  strength  it 
has — numbers. 

A  few  hours  would  bring  us  to  Wilna,  where  Dick 
Gaines  was  waiting  for  us.  I  looked  at  my  compan- 
ion; the  mellow  light  of  the  lamp  fell  upon  her  and 
made  her  more  beautiful  than  ever.  I  was  almost 
sorry  that  Dick  was  not  in  St.  Petersburg.  From 
the  other  compartments  rose  a  din  and  clatter;  the 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  39 

loquacious  Muscovite  travellers  were  holding  high 
carnival. 

I  became  gloomy  and  silent.  But  Helene  turned 
to  me  and  said  :  "  Since  I  have  met  you  I  have 
grown  interested  in  you,  my  kind  cavalier.  Tell 
me  all  about  yourself  and  your  family.  I  can  retail 
it  to  Dick;   I  know  it  will  interest  him." 

''Pshaw!"  returned  I,  "your  history  would  be 
more  interesting." 

''  Perhaps,"  she  said  with  a  slight  sigh ;  "  but  yours 
first,  mine  afterward  ;  we've  plenty  of  time.  Please." 
This  last  with  the  pout  of  a  petted  child  conquered 
me,  and  I  gave  her  a  general  summary  of  my  history 
since  I  had  parted  from  Dick  to  go  to  Egypt  almost 
twenty  years  before.  And  she  appearing  quite  inter- 
ested in  my  family  matters,  I  explained  to  her  my 
connection  with  the  Weletskys,  and  to  her  earnest 
questioning  surrendered  many  minute  details  of  my 
inner  life.  Perhaps,  after  all,  it  was  best  to  be  occu- 
pied thus,  best  for  my  truth  to  my  old-time  chum. 
So  the  time  ran  on.  "And  now,  having  finished 
the  secret  history  of  the  Lenox  family,"  laughed 
I,  "please  give  me  the  archives  of  the  'House  of 
Gaines.'  " 

To  my  surprise,  she  answered  that  she  did  not 
know  much  about  them — "  Dick  and  I  have  been  so 
long  away  in  Europe,"  she  murmured. 

"  But  Mamie,  his  sister,  you  must  knov/  about 
her,"  I  said  ;  "  the  one  that  was  such  a  belle  at  the 
Point  in  '68?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  Mamie,"  she  answered  ;  "  Mamie  has 
been  married  for — for  ages ;  she  lives  in — in  Mexico." 

"  What  was  her  husband's  name  ?  "  I  asked. 


40  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

"  It   was   Smith — I   believe,"  she   said,  hurriedly. 
"  Do  you  know,  Dick  often  used  to  mention  you," 
she  cried,  changing  the  subject.    " '  Dear  old  Arthur, 
he  used  to  go  on,  stroking  his  black  mustaches." 

''  His  l?/ack  mustaches  !  "  gasped  I.  "  Why,  when 
he  was  at  the  Point,  Richard  was  a  blonde." 

"  Precisely,"  returned  she,  giving  a  little  start. 
Then,  continuing  rapidly,  she  whispered  :  "  Dick 
has  been  growing  gray  lately  and  has  taken  to  dye- 
ing his  locks."  A  moment  after  she  laughed : 
**  Yours  look  dark  enough  now.  You'll  never  have 
to  follow  poor  Dick's  example.  You  have  such  fine 
hair,"  and  patted  me  on  the  head  like  a  playful 
child. 

Her  innocent  compliment  bewitched  me.  ''  What 
a  lucky  fellow  Dick  was  to  get  you  ! "  cried  I. 
*'  What  was  your  name  before  you  made  Gaines 
think  earth  was  heaven  ?  " 

"You  mean  before  I  married  him,  I  suppose,  by 
your  inflated  metaphor  ?  "  she  laughed. 

"  Certainly — your  maiden  name." 

"  Why,  we're  at  Wilna,"  she  said,  for  the  lights 
of  that  town  were  dancing  before  us.  "  Dick  '11  be 
here  in  a  minute." 

"Yes,  but  your  maiden  name.  I  should  like  to 
think  of  you  as  a  girl  before  Dick  met  you,"  urged 
I,  in  a  kind  of  romantic  daze,  for  we  had  been  sit- 
ting beside  each  other  and  her  conversation  had 
been  in  whispers,  each  breath  of  which  had  made 
my  heart  bound. 

"  I'll  not  let  you  go  till  you  answer,"  I  exclaimed ; 
for  the  guard  had  opened  the  compartment  door 
and  announced,  "  Wilna — two  hours." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  41 


"  Dick  '11  see  us !  "  she  whispered,  for  I  had  got  an 
arm  about  the  fairy  waist.  "  Please — I — I  must  go 
to  the  hotel  instantly.  He  may  become  frightened. 
He  may  go  away — I  shall  not  hear — I  shall  be  lost  /" 

''  Who'll  go  away  ?  "  I  asked,  for  her  tone  was 
frightened  and  trembling. 

*'  Dick,  of  course — I  must  go  ! " 

"  Your  girlish  name  ?  " 

"  Vanderbilt-Astor,"  she  cried,  and  sprang  from 
the  carriage,  while  I,  astounded  at  such  a  peculiar 
conjunction  of  American  patronimics,  gathered  up 
her  feminine  belongings  and  followed  her  from  the 
compartment. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BARON   FRIEDRICH. 

I  OVERTOOK  her  on  the  platform.  She  was 
almost  running  along,  rapidly  draping  herself  in  the 
fur-trimmed  shuba.  "  You  seem  in  a  hurry,  Mrs. 
Gaines,  ne'e  Vanderbilt-Astor,"  laughed  I,  assisting 
her  tenderly  in  her  toilet. 

"  Quick  !   I — I  want  to  find  Dick,"  she  muttered. 

Surrounded  by  a  number  of  our  fellow-travellers, 
we  moved  rapidly  toward  the  porch  of  the  hotel, 
the  Russian  air,  keen  as  knife-blades,  quickening 
our  motions.  Tripping  along  by  my  side,  Mrs. 
Gaines's  step  appeared  to  grow  lighter.  As  the 
time  for  meeting  her  husband  approached,  was  my 
sad  thought.  Curiously  enough,  this  idea  seemed 
to  make  my  spirits  and  footsteps  much  more  heavy. 

The  portico  of  the  Hotel  de  Wilna  was  a  blaze  of 


42  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

light ;  several  richly  clad  dvorniks  and  porters  awaited 
at  its  open  doors  the  crowd  of  first-class  passengers 
on  this  train,  who  generally  while  away  their  two 
hours'  wait  under  its  hospitable  roof;  for  no  one  is 
in  a  hurry  in  Russia. 

As  we  neared  the  entrance  Helene's  eyes  peered 
curiously  about  as  if  in  search  of  some  one. 

''  Expecting  her  husband,"  thought  I. 

A  moment  after,  a  gentleman  cloaked  and  hooded 
after  the  manner  of  the  Russian  middle  classes 
stepped  toward  her  in  the  crowd,  but,  seeing  he-r 
hand  upon  my  arm,  seemed  to  hesitate,  glanced  at  me 
suspiciously,  and  murmured  something  in  Russian, 
then  turned  to  go.  But  as  he  did  so  I  caught  a 
sleight-of-hand  movement  of  his,  which  pressed  a 
paper  into  the  hand  of  the  lady  by  my  side,  which 
was  apparently  outstretched  to  receive  it. 

''A  message  from  Dick?"  murmured  I.  "You 
understand  Russian?" 

"A  word  or  two,"  she  whispered,  as  she  glanced 
hurriedly  at  the  scrap  of  paper.  The  next  moment 
a  sudden  shiver  like  that  of  the  ague  came  upon 
her,  perhaps  from  the  cold  night  air  blowing  so 
lustily  about  us,  perhaps  from  some  inner  emotion 
even  more  chilly. 

''  It  is  bad  news !  "  whispered  I. 

"Yes,  from  Dick,"  she  gasped,  through  chattering 
teeth.  "  Take  me  into  the  hotel,  quick !  It  is  so 
cold — so  freezing  out  here." 

Astonished,  I  assisted  her  inside  the  portals.  Here 
was  a  large  porcelain  stove  giving  out  grateful  heat. 
Near  this  I  was  about  to  place  her,  but  the  shivering 
fit  left  her  even  before  she  reached  the  zone  of  its 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  43 

warmth.  She  stepped  suddenly  from  me  to  the  office 
of  the  hotel,  and  gave  me  a  new  sensation.  In  a 
voice  easily  audible  to  the  crowd  about  her,  she 
asked  nonchalantly  whether  any  mail  had  arrived 
for  Mrs.  Arthur  Lenox,  and  receiving  a  verbal  nega- 
tive, immediately  said  :  ''  Rooms  up-stairs  and  supper 
for  two."  Then  giving  me  a  smile  and  lisping,  "  I 
presume  that  will  suit  you,  Arthur,"  she  swept  up- 
stairs, while  I  hastily  followed,  to  demand  an  expla- 
nation of  how  Mrs.  Dick  Gaines  expected  letters  to 
meet  her  in  Wilna,  addressed  to  my  wife. 

The  attentive  maitre  de  hotel  ?iQ\Y  past  us  and  threw 
open  the  door  of  a  splendid  apartment.  In  Russia 
Americans  are  always  supposed  to  be  rich,  conse- 
quently they  gave  us  the  best  in  the  house. 

*'  The  Barins  orders?"  he  queried,  bowing  to  the 
ground. 

Taking  a  hint  from  my  companion's  suggestion, 
I  directed  :  "  The  best  supper  you  can  get  at  once." 

He  instantly  presented  the  menu  and  wine  card, 
and,  while  I  selected,  Mrs.  Richard  threw  her  shuba 
and  turban  upon  a  chair. 

A  moment  after  the  servitor  departed,  and  turn- 
ing to  my  pretty  enigma,  I  said,  a  trifle  sternly: 
''  What  made  you  ask  for  my  wife's  mail  at  this 
hotel?" 

"Did  I?"  she  asked,  uncertainly. 

"You  have  forgotten  ?  " 

*'  Perhaps  I  did,"  she  replied,  nervously  drawing 
off  her  gloves  and  tossing  them  upon  her  wraps. 
"  I  was  so  surprised  and  shocked  at  the  news  that 
man,  an  employee  of  Dick's,  brought  me,  I  did  not 
know  what  I  was  doing;  for  the  moment." 


44  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

"  Bad  news  from  your  husband  ?  "  said  I,  with  some 
concern,  for  twenty  years  had  still  left  my  old 
chum's  memory  green  in  my  heart. 

"Hush!  not  so  loud!  They  ^\yq  you  that  title 
here,"  she  whispered,  warningly.  ''  Come  nearer  to 
me."  Then  she  said,  suddenly  and  nervously  :  "  It  is 
awful ! — awful ! — awful  I  " 

"What  is  awful?"  queried  I,  in  a  whisper,  sitting 
close  to  her  on  the  sofa ;  for  tears  were  coming  into 
the  hazel  eyes  that  glistened  through  them.  The 
shapely  bosom  was  panting  wildly  under  its  silken 
jacket,  and  hysteria  in  pretty  women  always  appeals 
to  my  military  heart. 

"  He — he  has — gone  to  St.  Petersburg  !  "  she 
gasped.  "  He  left  yesterday  on  business.  I  am 
here  alone.  What  shall  I  do,  Arthur;  my  Heaven! 
what  shall  I  do  ? "  Then  the  rivulets  of  pearls 
dropped  from  her  eyes. 

"  Let  the  experience  of  a  man  of  the  world  aid 
you  !  "  murmured  I,  an  eager  enthusiasm  in  my 
voice. 

With  a  gasping  "God  bless  you,  Arthur!"  her 
panting  heart  was  beating  against  mine  ;  her  per- 
fumed hair  was  upon  my  shoulder,  and  she  sobbed. 

"  Don't  !  don't  I "  I  whispered,  desperately. 
"  What  will  the  waiter  think  ? "  For  hysterics  in 
women,  though  charming,  embarrass  me. 

"  I — I  can't  help  it,"  she  murmured  ;  "  I  must — 
oh,  Arthur,  you  are  so  good !  When  you  go — I 
shall  have  no  passport.  My  baggage  checked  to  St. 
Petersburg — I  shall  be  questioned — perhaps  arrested, 
and  you — you — they  may  even  suspect  you.  You 
heard  what  Petroff  said  about  false  passports.     Into 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  45 

what  trouble   has  my  folly  got  us  both  !     The  awful 
newspapers — Dick  will  hear  !  " 

Here  she  had  a  shiver  that  was  repeated  by  me  ; 
if  this  got  into  the  newspapers,  my  wife  would  also 
hear. 

"What — what  must  I  do?"  she  shuddered. 

"Do!"  cried  I,  a  sudden  inspiration  seizing  me, 
"  do  !  Why,  go  on  with  me  to  St.  Petersburg — to 
meet  Dick!  " 

"  Of  course,"  she  answered.  "  How  foolish  of  me 
not  to  think  of  that  before!  I  have  a  ticket.  Oh, 
how  unselfishly  wise,  how  nobly  thoughtful  you  are, 
Arthur  !  "  Then,  with  a  sigh  of  content  like  a  tired 
dove,  her  lovely  head  fell  upon  my  breast,  while  in 
an  insane  kind  of  rapture  my  arm  encircled  a  waist 
lithe  as  that  of  a  naiad  and  enchanting  as  that  of  a 
Venus. 

"  Cheer  up,  little  woman  !  "  cried  I,  encouragingly  ; 
not  that  she  was  so  small,  but  I  had  got  the  Spanish 
manner  of  diminutives  for  beauty  from  the  Carlists 
when  I  served  under  Don  Carlos.  "  Brace  up — don't 
sob  so  !     The  waiter  will  bring  the  tea  in  a  minute." 

Thus  encouraged,  Mrs.  Dick  revived,  noted  my 
encircling  arm,  gave  me  a  big  blush,  started  up  and 
cried  quite  merrily  :  "  Won't  your  plan  be  good  fun  ? 
In  twenty  hours  more  we'll  be  in  St.  Petersburg. 
You'll  take  me  to  the  Hotel  de  I'Europe,  then  hunt 
up  Dick,  tell  him  our  adventure,  and  what  a  jolly  ex- 
planation we'll  have  !  Oh,  you  are  a  genius— a  good 
genius  !  "  And  the  innocent  darling  began  to  dance 
about  in  the  greatest  joy  as  the  waiter  covered  the 
table  with  a  supper  fit  for  Lucullus,  upon  which  a 
moment  after  she  fell  with  a  childish  appetite  that 


46  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

gladdened  me ;  for  I  saw  her  faith  in  my  knowledge 
of  the  world  had  made  her  confident  of  the  result  of 
this  adventure. 

But  as  she  laughed,  chatted,  and  ate,  I  began  to 
think,  and  as  the  embarrassments  of  my  situation 
came  upon  me,  I  stopped  eating,  began  to  drink,  and 
became  glum,  moody,  and  brown-studied. 

A  moment  after,  the  waiter  being  gone,  she 
pouted  :  ''  You  don't  look  very  much  pleased  at  hav- 
ing me  under  your  charge  for  a  few  hours  more," 
giving  me  a  petulant  glance. 

**  It  is  not  that,  but  afterzvard,''  muttered  I. 
"  Supposing  the  Weletskys  meet  me  at  the  station, 
with  you  on  my  arm  ;  supposing,  my  Heaven !  my 
daughter  has  been  telegraphed  of  my  intended 
arrival,  and  is  at  the  depot  with  them.  Don't  you 
suppose  that  she'll  know  that  you  are  not  her 
mother,  though  every  railroad  official  will  regard  you 
as  my  wife,  billed,  tabbed,  and  passported  ?  " 

"Your  daughter  is  in  Rjasan  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Certainly." 

"  And  you  telegraphed  from  Eydtkuhnen  to-day  ?  '* 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  there  is  no  earthly  chance  of  your  daugh- 
ter's learning  this  in  time  to  be  in  St.  Petersburg 
to-morrow." 

"You  speak  positively  for  one  unacquainted  with 
Russia,"  said  I,  chewing  the  end  of  my  cigar. 

"  I  know  enough  to  be  positive,"  she  cried  impet- 
uously; then,  changing  her  tone,  she  faltered :  "  to  be 
positive  that  you  regret  befriending  me." 

"  Of  course  not,"  I  said.  But  here  I  gave  a  gasp, 
"  How  about  our  false  passport  ?  " 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  47 

Then  she  grew  very  pale  and  muttered  :  "  You  are 
going  to  leave  me — here  alone — you,  Arthur — you  /" 
staggered  to  me  and  took  my  hand,  and  caressed  it 
in  a  dumb  but  effective  way  that  made  me  feel 
proud  as  an  Indian  with  a  new  scalp. 

"  Never !  "  I  cried.  ''  You  foolish  child,  I  only 
mentioned  these  difficulties  that  surround  us  to 
show  your  innocence  the  pitfalls  my  experience 
apprehends — to  make  you  a  little  careful." 

*'  Careful  ?  "  she  said,  very  seriously  for  her  ;  ''  don't 
fear  me;  I  will  be  discretion."  And  then,  vivacity 
coming  upon  her,  she  cried  :  *'  I  positively  must 
insist  that  you  drink  no  more  wine  this  evening.  If 
you  do,  I'll — I'll  get  a  divorce,  you  naughty  boy." 
This  with  a  warning  upheld  marital  digit  and  a  pair 
of  laughing  eyes  that  were  more  intoxicating  to  me 
than  the  champagne  I  was  raising  to  my  lips. 

So  I  threw  away  care,  and  we  made  the  end  of  our 
midnight  meal  very  merry. 

But  the  ticking  of  the  clock  on  the  mantel  told  me 
time  was  fleeting.  I  rang  for  the  waiter,  discharged 
the  bill,  and  tossed  the  obsequious  bowing  creature 
a  couple  of  roubles.  Noting  this,  Mrs.  Dick  silently 
handed  me  her  purse. 

"  What's  this  for?  "  I  asked,  surprised. 

'*  For  my  expenses,"  she  returned  quickly.  "  Mrs. 
Dick  Gaines  must  pay  her  own  way." 

"  But  Mrs.  Arthur  Lenox "  suggested  I. 

"  Will  pay  it  also,"  she  whispered.  "  Don't  re- 
fuse me.  My  Heaven,  isn't  my  situation  embarrass- 
ing enough  without  making  me  blush  every  time  I 
look  at  your  open  pocket-book  ?  Take  this  money. 
You  must,  you  shall ;  if  not  all — part  !  " 


48  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

She  forced  a  lot  of  bills  into  my  hand,  then  said  : 
"  Now  I  can  ask  you  for  breakfast  to-morrow  with 
a  clear  conscience  !  "  A  moment  after  we  rose  to  go. 

"You — you  don't  regret  not  parting  from  me  at 
Wilna?"  my  protdgde  asked,  a  smile  upon  her 
lips.  Then  she  gave  me  a  mocking  warning. 
"  Don't,  Arthur  !  the  man  is  looking.  You're  too 
attentive  for  a  genuine  husband  !  "  For  I  was  assist- 
ing her  into  her  furs  with  a  lingering  but  ardent 
solicitude  that  savored  but  little  of  married  non- 
chalance. 

A  moment  after,  with  her  upon  my  arm,  I  was 
coming  down  the  stairs  and  threading  the  throng  of 
curious  loungers,  who  gazed  open-eyed  upon  the  fair 
Amerikansky  Barina,  upon  my  way  out  of  the  hotel. 

As  I  passed  the  office  the  clerk  beckoned  to  me. 
"  You  will  excuse  me,  Colonel  Lenox  ;  would  you 
please  register  and  permit  me  to  look  at  your  pass- 
port ?  A  mere  matter  of  form,  but  police  instruc- 
tions must  be  obeyed,"  he  said  with  deference. 

Thus  requested,  there  was  nothing  for  me  but  to 
write  ''Arthur  Lenox' and  Wife  "  upon  the  hotel 
book  ;  another  awful  record  in  case  the  true  Mrs. 
Lenox  ever  by  hapless  chance  gazed  upon  the  page. 

At  the  clerk's  voice,  Mrs.  Dick  had  given  my  arm 
a  sudden,  startled  clutch.  Now,  as  I  signed,  she 
looked  over  my  shoulder  and  exclaimed  to  the  man: 
"  Oh,  those  passports — those  passports  !  We've 
shown  ours  so  often,  Arthur,  it  must  be  nearly  worn 
out  by  this  time  !" 

Then  taking  my  arm,  her  touch  became  clinging, 
and  as  we  passed  out  to  the  darkness  of  the  night 
on  our  way  to  the  train,  she  whispered :  "  I  get  so 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  49 

frightened  every  time  they  call  for  that  awful  pass- 
port. What  a  dear  good  man  of  the  world.you  are, 
taking  care  of  a  little  know-nothing  like  me." 

To  this  compliment  I  replied  nothing,  save  by 
stroking  my  mustachios,  that  are  still  jetty  black — 
thanks  to  an  Eastern  preparation  that  I  obtained 
from  Ali  Kahn,  an  Alexandria  barber,  when  I  was 
connected  with  the  Khedive's  army — though  the 
man  of  the  world  within  me  was  thinking  deeply. 

A  few  moments  brought  us  to  the  train.  We 
entered  our  compartment,  and  Mrs.  Dick  sank  down 
upon  its  luxurious  cushions  with  a  sigh  of  tired 
relief,  for  the  varying  emotions  of  our  stay  at  Wilna 
seemed  to  have  been  disastrous  to  her  nervous  sys- 
tem. 

I  looked  at  my  watch  ;  we  had  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
before  leaving. 

The  cold  air  was  coming  in  upon  her.  I  closed 
the  door  of  our  stateroom. 

"Thank  you,"  said  the  lady,  listlessly.  "  I — I  am 
very  tired.  Would  you  mind — hanging  my  hat  up  ? 
Oh !  You  take  too  much  trouble  for  me."  For  I 
was  assisting  her  with  delicate  tenderness  to  remove 
her  fur-trimmed  shuba. 

*'  Can't  I  do  anything  more  for  you  ?  You  look 
fatigued,"  murmured  I  ;  as,  relieved  of  her  wraps, 
she  had  sunk  down  upon  the  cushions  again,  so  lan- 
guid and  listless  that  she  reminded  me  of  Byron's 
alluring  Dudu  : 

"  Soft  and  languishing  and  lazy  ; 

But  of  a  beauty  that  would  drive  you  crazy." 

*'  My  slippers,"  she  murmured.     In  a  moment  I 
had  fished  from  her  hand-satchel  the  two  little  arti- 
4 


50  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

cles  she  named,  and  was  gazing  in  astonishment  at 
their  picturesque  petiteness,  bronzed  and  embroid- 
ered in  the  finest  French  taste  and  art. 

Then  she  gave  a  sudden  and  startled  ^'  Ouch  ! " 
for  I  had  sunk  at  the  adorable  feet  that  were  small 
enough  to  be  contained  in  such  liliputian  coverings, 
and  with  the  deftness  of  a  lady's  maid,  and  with  the 
courtesy  of  the  old  regime  upon  which  I  pride  my- 
self, was  busy  upon  the  lacings  of  the  Polish  boots 
of  my  tired  charge. 

After  a  second's  languishing  dissent  she  let  me 
have  my  will,  and  with  the  grand  air  of  an  old-time 
marquis  I  stole  her  little  bottines  from  her  and  care- 
fully placed  upon  the  delicate  feet  the  slippers  that, 
small  as  they  were,  were  all  too  large  for  the  high- 
instepped  morsels  they  contained. 

But,  as  I  did  so,  two  admirable  ankles  robed  in 
pearly  and  glistening  silk  caught  my  admiring  eyes  ; 
the  blood  rushed  to  my  head.  With  an  insane 
giggle  I  cried  :  *'  What  would  Dick  Gaines  say  to 
this?" 

When  a  sudden  and  cursed  knocking  upon  the 
door  sounded  like  thunder  in  my  ears  and  ended 
a  temporary  insanity. 

As  I  opened  the  door  Helene  started  up  with 
a  frightened,  wild-deer  look.  The  conductor,  gilt- 
banded  cap  in  hand,  stood  outside. 

"Would  monsieur  pardon  the  liberty?"  he  said. 

I  bowed  in  mute  acquiescence. 

"  I  regret  to  inform  you  I  must  ask  a  favor.  The 
train  is  very  crowded." 

"  Name  it,"  I  muttered,  the  sound  of  my  voice 
seeming  strange. 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  5 1 

"  Princess  Palltzin  and  her  sister-in-law  from 
Warsaw  are  on  the  train.  Madame  has  the  only 
large  compartment,"  muttered  he  with  a  deprecat- 
ing bow.  "  Would  madame  kindly  share  it  with 
the  ladies,  and  monsieur  could  be  made  comfortable 
in  another  stateroom  ?  " 

Rage  entered  my  veins.  I  was  about  to  cry : 
"  The  Princess  Palitzin  can  go  to  Tophet." 

When,  with  a  smile  of  amiability  which  charmed 
the  official,  Mrs.  Dick  exclaimed  in  a  relieved  and 
joyous  manner:  "  Most  certainly,  sir!  " 

The  guard  was  profuse  in  thanks. 

*'I  deeply  regret  to  disturb  a  friend  of  Colonel 
Petroff's,  but " 

"  Never  mind,"  interrupted  Helene,  hurriedly,  '^  I 
am  sure  you  will  do  the  best  you  can  for — my  poor 
banished  husband."  This  last  remark  with  a  rogu- 
ish emphasis. 

The  man  bowed  and  withdrew. 

Something  in  my  face  made  Helene  laugh.  *'  You 
dear,  good  Arthur,"  she  whispered  ;  "  can't  you  see 
this  is  the  luckiest  thing  that  could  have  happened? 
As  companions  of  such  great  ladies  as  the  Princesses 
Palitzin,  no  one  will  dare  to  question  our  position 
or  passport." 

The  conductor  returned  and  removed  my  small 
belongings  to  an  adjoining  compartment  for  two,  in 
which  a  gentleman  was  already  retiring.  For  ap- 
pearance' sake,  I  left  Helene  my  French  novels  and 
some  other  trifles. 

The  two  princesses  entered.  The  guard  had  evi- 
dently spoken  to  them  of  our  ready  courtesy.  They 
promptly  began  to  thank  Helene   in  the  language 


52  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

of  their  country.  To  which  Mrs.  Dick,  now  grown 
bright  and  vivacious  again,  smiled  and  said  in 
French :  "  Excuse  me,  I  don't  speak  Russian." 

The  great  lady  immediately  used  the  Gallic 
tongue.  She  then  made  her  gracious  acknowledg- 
ment also  to  me.  I  replied  courteously  as  I  could 
with  great  internal  dissatisfaction ;  though  I  could 
see  my  military  bearing  and  old-time  manner  im- 
pressed both  her  and  her  charming  companion. 
The  elder  lady  was  handsome  and  commanding; 
the  younger  one,  apparently  about  eighteen  years 
of  age,  had  a  very  fresh  and  girlish  beauty  and  that 
peculiar  graciousness  we  find  so  often  in  Russians  of 
the  highest  rank. 

*'  Monsieur  is  an  American  ?  "  said  the  elder. 

I  bowed. 

"And  madame  also?" 

Mrs.  Dick  smiled  and  nodded  her  head. 

"  I  will  leave  you  now,"  I  muttered. 

My  tone  was  so  sulky,  Helene  gave  a  little  laugh, 
but  perhaps  repenting  of  her  cruelty,  stepped  after 
me,  lisping:  "  Don't  be  so  angry !  my  dear  old  Arthur 
— good  night !  " 

"  Good  night !  "  I  answered  hoarsely.  The  next 
instant  temptation  overcame  me.  I  took  advantage 
of  the  situation,  and  pressed  a  tender  but  ardent  kiss 
upon  two  rosy  lips  that  seemed  to  pant  under  my 
mustachios  ;  and  then — oh !  the  blushes  on  that 
piquant  face. 

These  grew  deeper  as  the  elder  princess  said  some- 
thing in  Russian  to  her  sister-in-law,  who  answered 
by  a  little  laugh. 

I  entered  my  stateroom.     That  kiss,  still  felt  upon 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


53 


my  lips,  had  set  my  brain  awhirling.  As  I  sank  upon 
the  cushions  Satan  whispered  in  my  ear:  "  She  is  so 
fair ;  why  not  take  this  joy  that  is  given  into  your 
hand  ?  "     Honor  held  me  back. 

Was  it  thoughts  of  two  dear  *'  blue  eyes  "  watch- 
ing for  me  in  Paris,  forgotten  for  the  moment  in  the 
charms  and  fascinations  of  my  beautiful  charge? 
No  ;  it  was  the  vision  of  Dick  Gaines  in  his  cadet 
uniform,  that  West  Point  honor  for  a  fellow  class- 
man. Oh,  we  men  of  the  world — we  men  of  the 
world  ! 

PVom  this  meditation  I  was  aroused  by  a  remark 
in  grammatical  English,  spoken  with  a  peculiar  ac- 
cent, half  Russian,  half  German  :  ''  Monsieur  is  an 
American,  I  presume  ? "  And  looking  across  the 
stateroom  saw  that  it  came  from  my  companion 
for  the  night,  a  round-stomached  little  man  with 
a  Teutonic  face,  small,  piercing  Tartar  eyes,  French 
mustachios,  and  general  barbaricness  in  the  hair 
department. 

He  was  well  but  unostentatiously  dressed,  and 
looked  sixty,  though  probably  not  more  than  forty- 
five  or  fifty,  as  the  bluish  goggles  that  covered  and 
concealed  his  eyes  added  to  his  apparent  age. 

His  voice  was  the  most  pecuhar  thing  abo'ut  him, 
being  wonderfully  smooth,  musical,  and  insinuating. 

I  replied  politely  to  his  remark,  stating  with  the 
usual  sententiousness  and  modesty  of  my  country 
that  I  was  an  ex-officer  in  the  American  army,  and 
also  an  ex-officer  in  the  armies  of  a  great  many  other 
countries. 

*'  You  are  a  friend  of  the  Princess  Palitzin,"  he 
said,  and  then  continued,  a  slight  tone  of  envy  in 


54 


MY   OFFICIAL    WIFE. 


his  voice  :  "  Americans  have  the  entree  everywhere 
in  Europe." 

Rather  piqued  at  his  remark,  I  will  put  this  gen- 
tleman in  his  place,  thought  I,  and  rejoined  :  "  I  am 
here  on  a  visit  to  the  Weletskys  ;  my  daughter  mar- 
ried the  younger  brother  of  Constantine,  Basile, 
one  of  the  heros  of  Plevna,  the  one  who  died  in 
Japan." 

"Ah!  a  relative  of  the  Weletskys."  His  tone 
showed  I  had  risen  in  his  estimation,  as  it  should,  I 
having  mentioned  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  aris- 
tocratic families  in  Russia. 

*'  You  Americans  are  a  great  nation,"  he  contin- 
ued ;  and  then  suddenly  asked  me  so  many  curious 
but  well-considered  questions  about  my  country 
that  we  fell  into  a  genial  and  perhaps  intimate  con- 
versation over  a  couple  of  good  cigars ;  I  telling 
him  of  one  or  two  army  adventures  with  Indians  on 
the  plains,  and  he  astonishing  mc  with  a  couple  of 
peculiar  anecdotes  of  the  inner  life  of  some  young 
New  Yorkers  who  had  just  visited  St.  Petersburg, 
that  made  me  open  my  eyes  in  wonder. 

A  moment  after,  as  I  was  retiring,  he  remarked : 
**  I  may  be  compelled  to  leave  the  train  before  you 
awake  ;  should  I  be  able  to  be  of  service  to  you, 
please  call  upon  me,  Colonel  Lenox,"  and  handed 
me  the  following : 


^aron    S^riedrich. 


MY  OFFICIAL  WIFE.  55 

CHAPTER  V. 

LA   BELLE  AMERICAINE. 

It  was  daylight  when  I  awoke.  The  "moujik" 
was  tapping  at  the  door  as  a  signal  for  breakfast. 
I  arose  to  the  responsibilities  of  another  day  in 
Russia.  While  dressing,  the  conductor  came  in  to 
take  a  look  at  my  tickets.  He  reiterated  the  high 
titles  of  the  Princesses  Palitzin.  They  were  the 
wife  and  sister  of  the  Governor-General  of  Poland. 

After  offering  me  every  attention,  he  was  about 
to  withdraw,  when  I  heard  the  voice  of  my  com- 
panion of  the  night  before.  This  gentleman  had 
apparently  not  left  the  train  as  he  had  expected,  for 
he  was  sitting  upon  his  side  of  the  compartment, 
and  making  his  toilet  arrangements,  which  were 
simple,  as  he  had  only  removed  his  coat  and  vest. 

"  A  word  with  you,  sir,"  he  said  curtly  to  the  con- 
ductor. 

*^Yes,  your  worship,"  answered  the  man,  with 
respectful  bow. 

*'  I  don't  think  you  understand  exactly  who  I 
am,"  muttered  my  companion,  *'or  you  would  not 
neglect  certain  train  regulations.  A  word  in  your 
ear,  you  beast!  you  dog!  you  swine!"  And  he 
seized  the  autocrat  of  the  train  by  his  ear,  drew 
him  near  to  him,  and  whispered  half  a  dozen  words. 

As  he  did  so  the  conductor's  face  grew  ashy  pale, 
his  knees  became  weak,  and  he  grovelled  and 
fawned  and  wriggled  before  my  sneering  compan- 
ion. 

*'Yes — your  high  excellency — your  grand  high- 
ness— pardon  your  most  humble  slave.     Pardon." 


$6  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

"  No  more  compliments,  but  attend  to  what  I 
have  told  you  ;  and,  by  the  bye,  you  may  order  my 
breakfast  for  me  in  the  eating-house,  and  for  my 
American  friend  also,  who  I  hope  will  be  my 
guest,"  he  said,  with  a  kindly  smile  at  me,  as  the 
conductor  cringed  and  grovelled  his  way  out  of  our 
compartment. 

Decidedly  impressed  with  the  effect  of  his  com- 
munication, I  accepted  Baron  Friedrich's  invitation 
to  breakfast. 

Descending  into  the  crisp,  electric,  snappy  air,  I 
really  enjoyed  the  strangeness  of  my  surroundings. 
Mind  and  nerves  were  rested  after  the  exciting  but 
pleasing  emotions  of  the  preceding  day. 

Stepping  into  the  station,  I  ordered  a  dainty 
repast  sent  to  my  wife,  and  that  fascinating  lady 
forwarded  me  her  thanks  and  the  information  that 
she  would  sec  me  very  shortly.  This  message  came 
by  the  maid  of  one  of  the  Palitzin  ladies,  for  these 
official  graiidcs  dames  were  not  early  birds  them- 
selves, and  their  servant  was  foraging  for  them  also 
in  the  restaurant. 

Mrs.  Dick  being  taken  care  of,  Baron  Friedrich 
and  I  sat  down  to  a  repast,  over  the  memories  of 
which,  even  at  this  day,  I  smack  my  lips. 

Every  luxury  of  the  season  was  placed  before  us. 
The  trout  were  from  Gatschina,  the  partridges  from 
Finland  ;  the  ham  was  that  of  the  genuine  wild  boar 
from  Westphalia.  We  drank  Johannisberg  of  the 
real  imperial  stock,  and  our  cigars — even  in  Cuba  I 
had  smoked  no  better. 

Such  a  meal  breeds  friendship  in  man  and  love 
in  women.     Our  conversation,  which  began  in  the 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  57 

every-day  remarks  of  casual  acquaintances,  became 
gradually  that  of  intimates. 

We  talked  with  the  freedom  of  old  friends,  and  I 
was  astonished  at  my  companion's  deep  insight  into 
business,  literature,  and  the  affairs  of  the  world. 
Once  I  was  about  to  touch  upon  politics,  but  he  at 
once  stopped  me,  remarking:  ''  Never  comment  on 
government  in  this  country.  The  more  you  think 
of  political  subjects,  the  less  you'd  better  say  about 
them." 

*'But  I  was  going  to  talk  of  American  poHtics. 
What  has  the  high  tariff  of  the  United  States  got 
to  do  with  the  government  of  the  czar  ? "  I  pro- 
tested. 

''  Perhaps  nothing — perhaps  something,"  he  re- 
joined, *'but  don't  whisper  about  it.  Dream  of  it 
if  you  like,  but  only  then  if  you  don't  talk  in  your 
sleep.  Take  my  advice  and  remember  that  we 
regard  a  social  crime  in  this  country  " — here  he  gave 
a  little  grin — "  as  quite  venial  compared  to  a  political 
one." 

The  authority  of  his  remark  rather  surprised  me  ; 
but  I  was  even  more  astonished  at  the  obsequious 
grovellings  of  the  landlord  of  the  hotel.  He  had 
appeared  once  or  twice  during  our  meal,  but  as 
we  stepped  out  to  the  platform,  he  bowed  and 
scraped  and  squirmed  after  us,  and,  kissing  my 
companion's  hand,  begged  to  know  if  the  meal 
had  suited  his  high  nobility's  taste.  Could  he 
not  put  a  hamper  of  provisions  upon  the  train 
for  him ;  at  least  a  box  of  cigars  and  some  cham- 
pagne ? 

The   cigars    Baron    Friedrich    finally    deigned    to 


58  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

accept,  and  our  host  bowed  himself  away.  A  mo- 
ment after  my  companion  turned  to  me  and  said : 
"  I  had  expected  to  leave  you  at  Diinaburg  before 
you  awoke,  but  some  information  I  received  at  that 
place  takes  me  on  to  the  capital.  You  will  excuse 
me  for  the  present ;  I  have  some  little  matters  that 
require  my  attention  before  the  train  leaves." 

Then,  v/ith  a  kindly  nod,  he  left  me  ;  while  I 
wondered  to  myself  who  the  deuce  this  little  half 
German,  fourth  Tartar,  fourth  Frenchman  was  that 
the  railroad  employees  should  squirm  before  him  as 
if  he  were  a  god  upon  earth ;  finally  concluding  that 
he  must  be  the  president  of  the  line  on  a  quiet 
spotting  and  inspection  tour.  Some  of  his  glory 
seemed  to  have  descended  upon  me,  for  as  I  took 
a  look  about  the  station,  I  was  regarded  obse- 
quiously by  several  who  had  seen  us  together. 

The  place  was  like  most  Russian  stations :  res- 
taurant ''^  a  la  F?'angais ;'*  the  usual  white-walled 
Greek  church,  with  a  huge  dome,  four  little  domes 
perched  on  the  corners;  wood  huts,  framed  log- 
houses,  and  the  crowd  of  booted,  furred,  and  bon- 
neted villagers  and  voyagers,  with  a  liberal  sea- 
soning of  gray-coated,  astrakhan-capped  sentinels, 
whose  bayonets  and  gun  barrels  gave  off  the  rays  of 
the  bright  autumn  sun ;  business-like  looking  sabres 
on  diagonal  black  leather  straps  completed  their 
outfit.  A  hardy,  strapping,  blond-whiskered,  blue- 
eyed  set  they  were. 

Pacing  the  platform,  I  relished  my  after-breakfast 
smoke.  Really,  in  Russia  one  can  obtain  the  best 
cigars,  the  choicest  wines — and  those  of  the  baron 
were  delicious. 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  59 

As  I  smoked  I  cogitated,  and  as  I  cogitated 
became  happy.  My  comfortable  breakfast,  united 
with  the  bright  sunshine  and  crisp  air,  braced  my 
spirits.  I  reflected  this  affair  with  the  charming 
Mrs.  Dick  would  not  embarrass  mie.  On  my  arrival 
in  St.  Petersburg  I  would  send  Helene  to  a  hotel ; 
then  find  her  husband,  tell  him  of  the  unfortunate 
predicament  out  of  which  I  had  helped  his  charm- 
ing wife  ;  next  relate  my  story  to  the  American 
minister  or  secretary  of  legation.  He  would  per- 
haps "  hum  and  haw  "  a  little,  and  smile  perchance 
peculiarly  at  Mrs.  Dick  when  he  met  her  in  society, 
or  cast  a  pitying  glance  at  poor  Gaines  when  he 
came  in  for  his  letters  ;  but  he  would  fix  up  the  pass- 
port affair  with  the  police.  Americans  are  such 
peculiar  people.  They  would  think  I  sinned  from 
ignorance  or  love  for  the  fascinating  Mrs.  Richard  ; 
it  would  be  at  best  a  venial  sin  in  their  eyes.  As  I 
thought  this  the  day  seemed  very  bright  to  me. 

A  moment  after,  my  promenade,  which  was  by  the 
side  of  the  train,  was  suddenly  interrupted. 

I  heard,  "  Arthur,  thanks  for  the  charming  break- 
fast, and — good  morning."  Looking  up,  I  saw  a 
little  white  hand,  upon  which  the  jewels  sparkled 
in  the  sunlight,  tapping  me  on  the  shoulder.  For 
answer  I  kissed  the  hand,  and  a  moment  after 
Helene's  piquant  face  appeared  at  the  half-open 
window.  "  Wait  for  me,"  she  said  ;  ''  I  must  take  a 
little  promenade  with  you  this  morning." 

The  next  minute  my  pretty  prot^g^e  was  on  the 
platform,  more  fresh,  dainty,  and  generally  irre- 
sistible, if  possible,  than  she  was  the  day  before. 

''  You  dear,  good  creature,  what  a  lovely  breakfast 


6o  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

you  sent  me.  No  !  don't  answer  me  in  that  way !  " 
she  cried  ;  for  I  was  acting  my  character  of  doting 
husband  again  upon  her  blushing  cheek. 

A  moment  after,  her  hand  resting  on  my  arm,  she 
was  keeping  step  to  my  military  strides. 

As  we  tramped  I  told  her  of  my  plan  of  action 
after  our  arrival  in  the  capital,  and  asked  her  what 
hotel  she  would  suggest  as  her  abode. 

"Hotel  de  I'Europe,"  she  said  at  once;  then 
whispered:  '*  But  the  Weletskys !  They  are  sure  to 
hear  of  this  now  !  " 

"  Why  ?  "  faltered  I.  "  Why  should  they  know  of 
this?" 

"  Because,"  murmured  the  lady,  "  the  Princesses 
Palitzin  are  intimates  of  your  Russian  relatives." 

"  They  know  the  Weletskys  ?  "     I  shivered. 

"  Extremely  well  !  The  younger  one,  the  sister, 
Dozia,  is  engaged  to  Sacha,  the  nephew  of  Con- 
stantine  Weletsky." 

"  Sacha?     What  a  curious  name  !  " 

"  Not  at  all  curious.  It's  the  diminutive  of 
Alexander.  How  little  you  know  about  Russia," 
she  prattled. 

"  How  much  ^'ou  do,"  answered  I. 

Upon  which  she  looked  confused  a  moment,  and 
then  poutingly  said  :  ''  You  should  be  proud  of  me, 
not  cross  with  me.  The  Palitzins  have  fallen  in  love 
with  your  wife." 

"  Good  Heavens !  You  have  fascinated  them  as 
you  did  me !  "  gasped  I,  in  such  an  affrighted  tone 
that  Mrs.  Dick  went  into  screams  of  roguish  laugh- 
ter. 

"  I  hardly  think  our  predicament  is  amusing,"  I 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  6l 

muttered  in  as  savage  a  voice  as  I  could  bring  my- 
self to  use  to  the  graceful  creature  clinging  to  my 
arm  in  what  I  proudly  thought  was  rather  a  honey- 
moon manner. 

"  I — I  was  not  laughing  at  our  predicament  but  at 
your  naive  confession,  my  sadrciir/'  she  answered; 
then  lisped:  *' So  I  fascinated  you?" 

"As  you  do  all  others,"  I  answered,  and  looking 
around  me  found  my  words  true. 

For  her  beauty  was  of  that  man-catching  order 
that  every  one  turned  to  gaze  at  her  graceful  bearing 
and  brilliant  charms.  The  dull,  sodden  peasants 
stared  after  her,  the  waiters  forgot  their  errands  in 
looking  at  her ;  even  the  hospitable  companion 
of  my  stateroom,  stepping  upon  the  platform  to 
enter  our  car,  gave  her  an  admiring  glance  from  his 
small,  blue-spectacled  eyes,  waved  his  hand,  and 
looked  enviously  at  me. 

As  he  disappeared,  Mrs.  Dick,  in  a  voice  of  un- 
unconcern,  asked  who  the  gentleman  was. 

"  I  don't  know,  certainly,  myself,"  I  answered ; 
**  but  he  gave  me  the  best  breakfast  I  have  ever  eaten 
in  my  life,  and  from  the  cringing  obsequiousness 
with  which  he  is  treated  by  the  railroad  people  I 
should  imagine  he  was  the  president  of  the  line,  or 
at  least  a  principal  stockholder." 

'*  Don't  you  know  all  railroads  belong  to  the 
government  in  Russia,  my  ignorant  son  of  Mars?" 
said  Mrs.  Richard,  with  a  playful  sneer.  ''  But  the 
bell  has  sounded." 

''  That's  so ;  he  can't  be  a  railroad  owner," 
laughed  I.  I  was  placing  her  on  the  car ;  the  train 
was  about  to  move  ;  she  was  standing  on  the  steps, 


62  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

her  face  turned  from  me.  "  However,  he's  some  of 
the  powers  that  be.  He's  a  baron,  anyway — Baron 
Friedrich,"  I  continued. 

At  my  last  word  Helene's  foot  somehow  slipped 
off  the  step ;  she  fell  back  into  my  arms,  always 
alert  for  such  lovely  burdens. 

"What's  the  matter?"  whispered  I. 

"  Nothing — I — I  am  a  little  dizzy.  A  slight  rush 
of  blood  to  the  head,"  she  muttered. 

This  was  curious,  for  her  face  was  quite  pale. 
However,  I  lifted  her  into  the  car,  and  a  moment  after 
she  whispered,  with  an  attempt  of  a  smile  :  "  I — I 
presume  you  and  Baron  Friedrich  became  quite  in- 
timate over  your  breakfast." 

"Quite,"  replied  I. 

"  Ah  !  "  She  leaned  slightly  against  the  side  of  the 
car.     "You  told  him  of  our  little  adventure?  " 

"  I  never  tell  stories  that  embarrass  ladies!  " 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said,  w^th  a  little  catch  in  her 
breath.  "  I — I  am  all  right  now.  Leave  me  alone 
and  I  will  try  and  think  of  some  way  to  arrange  the 
Weletsky  matter." 

I  led  her  to  the  door  of  the  Palitzin  stateroom. 
Here  she  suddenly  whispered :"  Don't  be  too  cor- 
dial with  your  new  friend.  I  presume  his  breakfast 
to  you  was  in  the  hopes  of  obtaining  an  introduc- 
tion to  the  Palitzins.  Apparently  he  is  of  the  do:/r- 
geois  class,  and  would  give  his  head  for  a  chance  to 
kiss  the  hands  of  such  great  ladies.  Remember,  Ar- 
thur, he  is  not  of  our  rank ;  treat  him  accordingly." 

With  this  she  slipped  through  the  open  door  of 
her  compartment,  while  I  proceeded  to  join  Baron 
Friedrich,    v/ho     smilingly    offered    me    a    superb 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  63 

cigar,  the  gift  of  our  friend,  the  restaurateur  of  the 
station.  So  the  train,  with  clanging  bell  and  shriek- 
ing whistle,  dashed  on  its  road  once  more  for  the 
Russian  capital. 

As  the  baron  was  now  occupied  in  looking  over 
a  number  of  apparently  official  reports  or  something 
of  that  kind,  I  interested  myself  as  best  I  could  with 
a  book,  though  my  brain  would  return  to  the  Wel- 
etsky  complication. 

The  Palitzins  knew  the  Weletskys.  They  had 
seen  me  with  my  apparent  wife.  How  could  I  ex- 
plain this  ?  I  determined,  if  the  worst  came,  to  tell 
the  truth  about  my  adventure  with  Mrs.  Dick  to 
Constantine  Weletsky,  imagining  him  to  be  a  suffi- 
cient man  of  the  world  to  keep  from  my  true  wife 
a  revelation  that  would  only  do  harm  and  perhaps 
might  give  her  pain. 

These  thoughts  were  suddenly  broken  in  upon 
by  my  friend.  Baron  Friedrich,  looking  up  from  his 
documents,  and  sharply  asking  :  "  Did  many  pretty 
women  journey  v/ith  you  from  Berlin?" 

''None  so  beautiful  as  my  wife,"  said  I,  with 
ardor. 

"Ah!  an  enthusiastic  husband,"  he  laughed, '*  a 
rara  avis  in  our  world.  Madame's  step-daughter 
married  Basile  Weletsky?" 

"  Madame's  daughter^'  said  I,  correcting  him. 

"  Your  wife  old  enough  to  be  a  grandmother  ?  "  he 
queried,  apparently  surprised. 

''Oh,"  replied  I,  nonchalantly,  "  madame  looks 
very  little  older  than  the  day  I  married  her.  She 
and  my  daughter  are  often  taken  for  sisters.  You 
would  think  that  if  you  saw  them  together." 


64  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

**  Ha — ah  ! "  he  repHed,  Hghtly.  "  You  Americans 
are  a  great  race.  In  you  I  find  a  husband  of  twenty 
years  still  in  love  with  his  wife.  In  madame  I  be- 
hold a  woman  who  is  a  grandmother,  yet  looks 
like  a  girl  hardly  out  of  boarding-school.  In  her 
beauty  and  apparent  youth  I  can  understand  why 
the  husband  is  still  the  lover — always?'' 

I  laughed  off  the  query  in  his  last  word,  and  Baron 
Friedrich  returned  to  his  documents. 

The  conductor  shortly  after  told  me  that  my 
wife  would  like  to  see  me.  Accepting  the  invita- 
tion, I  entered  the  larger  stateroom,  where  Helene 
received  me  charmingly,  and  the  usual  courtesies 
placed  me  at  ease  with  the  two  Russian  ladies,  who 
asked  many  questions  as  to  our  American  home 
life.  Anxious  to  put  my  best  foot  forward,  I  took 
the  conversation  on  myself,  and  after  a  few  army 
anecdotes,  together  with  a  short  description  of  my 
adventures  in  Egypt,  Turkey,  and  Spain,  I  had  suc- 
ceeded in  arousing  their  curiosity  and  admiration. 

So  the  day  ran  on  till  we  reached  Pokrov,  where 
the  last  halt  of  any  consequence  is  made.  Here  the 
elder  of  the  Princesses  Palitzin  graciously  asked  us 
to  join  them  at  the  table.  We  accepted,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course.  The  telegraph  in  advance  had  an- 
nounced the  passing  of  these  exalted  ladies,  and 
in  great  state  our  party  entered  the  eating-room, 
every  one  bowing  before  us,  Baron  Friedrich  among 
the  rest. 

The  halt  of  half  an  hour  gave  us  too  short  a  time 
for  our  social  repast.  The  fair  Muscovites  were 
well  versed  in  the  latest  chat  of  continental  salons, 
and  my  putative  wife  seemed  no  whit  their  inferior. 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  65 

A  little  later  we  passed  out  to  the  train,  and 
while  I  conversed  with  the  elder  Princess  Palitzin, 
my  wife  seized  upon  the  younger,  and  they  prom- 
enaded, arm  in  arm,  about  the  platform — a  lovely 
picture  that  attracted  the  eyes  of  all  lookers-on,  for 
the  young  princess  was  a  very  pretty  girl  of  a  blond 
type,  and  made  a  charming  foil  to  Helene,  whose 
dark  beauty  was  of  a  more  sprightly  order. 

*'  How  women  seem  instinctively  to  understand 
such  groupings,"  laughed  the  wife  of  the  Governor- 
General  of  Poland  to  me,  looking  on  the  picture  with 
a  slight  smile. 

Baron  Friedrich  also  appeared  to  enjoy  the 
spectacle,  as  his  glasses  seemed  to  follow  the  move- 
ments of  the  two  ladies.  Curiously,  also,  it  seemed 
to  me  that  a  good  deal  of  Mrs.  Dick  Gaines's  ex- 
hibition was  for  his  benefit  ;  when  she  neared  him 
she  seemed  more,  intimate,  more  confidential  with 
the  pretty  young  Russian  princess  than  at  other 
times. 

*'  By  George  !  "  thought  I  to  myself,  some  pangs 
perhaps  coming  into  my  heart,  "  she  is  going  to 
fascinate  that  old  duffer  also." 

This  seemed  to  be  the  case,  for  upon  the  first 
opportunity,  the  Princess  Palitzin  having  stepped 
into  the  car,  he  begged  me  to  give  him  the  honor 
of  an  introduction  to  my  wafe. 

Under  the  circumstances,  I  could  not  well  refuse 
this,  and  leading  him  up  to  her,  I  said  :  "  My  wife, 
Madame  Lenox,  I  present  the  Baron  Friedrich." 

Helene  received  him  most  cordially,  and  a  mo- 
ment after  presented  him  to  the  young  princess 
at  her  side.     That  aristocratic  young  lady,  however, 


66  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

took  little  more  notice  of  him  than  she  did  of  her 
dog  running  about  her. 

A  few  moments  of  this  snubbing  and  Baron  Fried- 
rich  took  his  leave.  Bowing  with  blinking  eyes  over 
my  wife's  hand,  he  murmured  :  ''  So  young  to  be  a 
grandmamma/'  and  walked  away,  leaving  the  young 
princess  laughing  at  Mrs.  Dick's  embarrassment,  who 
did  not  seem  over-pleased  at  the  remark. 

A  few  minutes  after  the  train  started.  As  I  was 
passing,  Helene  caught  me  at  the  door  of  her  state- 
room, and  whispered :  **  There  is  only  one  way  for  it. 
Take  me  to  the  hotel,  find  Dick,  and,  if  necessary, 
I  give  you  leave  to  sacrifice  me  a  /iU/e  to  your 
friends,  the  Weletskys'.  .  Sacrifice  me  just  a  little  to 
save  yourself.'* 

"If  this  comes  to  the  ears  of  Dick,"  I  muttered; 
"he  will  stand  no  such  nonsense." 

"  Oh  !  yes,  he  will,"  she  laughed.  "He  is  accus- 
tomed to  it."  Then  ran  into  her  compartment,  leav- 
ing me  astonished  ;  for  Dick  Gaines  of  West  Point 
in  1868  would  have  stood  no  such  nonsense  once^  let 
alone  many  times,  with  the  name  of  any  woman  he 
called  wife. 

A  moment  after.  Baron  Friedrich  and  I,  tete-a-tete 
in  my  compartment,  fell  into  a  general  conversa- 
tion, he  once  or  twice  remarking  upon  the  extra- 
ordinary youth  and  beauty  of  my  wife,  "  for  a  lady 
who  is,  I  am  told,  a  grandmother." 

And  I,  inflated  by  social  distinction  and  the  cham- 
pagne of  the  dinner-table,  and  wishing  to  impress 
my  companion  with  my  connections,  told  him  my 
wife  had  been  a  Miss  Vanderbilt-Astor  and  gave  him 
a  little  sketch  of  the  New  York  four  hundred. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  6/ 

So  the  day  wore  on.  The  little  outlying  suburbs 
of  St.  Petersburg,  garden-decked  and  splendidly 
parked,  came  into  view.  Our  noble  friends  were  pre- 
paring for  their  arrival.  Already  the  great  golden 
dome  of  St.  Isaac's  Church  was  visible.  We  dashed 
by  the  splendid  mazes  of  Peterhoff,  in  whose  bosky 
shades  the  imperial  lover  had  often  wooed  the  beau- 
ties of  his  great  domain,  and  not — in  vain. 

Then  flashing  by  Gatschina  in  its  marble  grand- 
eur, we  rattled  by  heavy  barrack  and  threatening 
outwork,  and  with  shrieking  whistle  and  clang- 
ing bell  the  train  drew  in  under  an  immense 
vaulted  roof. 

We  were  in  the  city  of  the  czar. 

On  the  long  platform  groups  of  waiting  friends 
were  on  watch  for  dear  ones  arriving. 

Several  porters  entered  to  bear  out  our  small 
parcels.  Directing  our  trunks  to  be  taken  to  the 
Hotel  de  TEurope,  I  helped  the  Russian  ladies  from 
the  car.  They  were  soon  surrounded  by  distin- 
guished-looking friends,  all  merrily  greeting  the 
new-comers. 

Then  I  returned  for  Helene,  who,  as  usual,  on 
making  her  appearance  caught  the  masculine  eye 
— instanter. 

I  was  about  sneaking  off  with  my  beautiful  but 
embarrassing  charge  as  quietly  as  possible  to  the 
hotel,  when  the  princess  stopped  her  and  politely 
insisted  on  introducing  ^^  La  Belle  Americaine'''  to 
her  friends.  ^ 

"  You  will  know  them  all  in  a  few  days ;  they  are 
all  intimates  of  the  Weletskys,"  the  Russian  lady 
whispered.     "  It  is  but  an  anticipation."     With  this 


68  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

she  presented  us,  and  my  wife  was  immediately  the 
centre  of  a  group,  who  cordially  showered  upon  her 
invitations  to  their  houses,  after  the  characteristic 
hospitality  of  the  Slavic  race. 

Upon  this  gorgeous  scene — for  several  of  the 
gentlemen  were  in  uniform — I  noticed  Baron  Fried- 
rich  gazing  with  longing  eyes.  Potent  as  he  was  on 
the  railroad,  court  society  did  not  seem  to  recog- 
nize him. 

After  a  word  or  two  with  one  of  the  introduced, 
a  captain  in  the  cavalry  of  the  guard,  I  turned  to 
give  some  directions  to  a  porter,  when  a  distin- 
guished-looking gentleman  advanced,  followed  by 
a  chasseur  in  gorgeous  livery,  evidently  in  search 
of  somebody. 

''Ah!  Constantine,"  cried  the  Princess  Palitzin, 
as  he  doffed  his  hat.  "  You  come  to  greet  your 
relations  ?  " 

'*  Certainly  ;  I  am  looking  for  Colonel  Lenox,"  said 
the  gentleman. — It  was  Weletsky  himself  come  to 
meet  me  ! 

I  shuddered  at  the  contretemps. 

''Behold  him,"  merrily  said  the  princess,  pointing 
to  me. 

The  next  moment  Constantine  Weletsky's  em- 
brace welcomed  me  to  St.  Petersburg. 

I  don't  know  what  I  said  to  him  ;  I  was  confused. 
In  a  moment  he  would  meet  Helene!  Instant  dis- 
covery and  open  scandal  were  imminent.  I  tried  to 
telegraph  her  by  signs.  She  was  vivaciously  chat- 
ting unconcernedly  with  her  new-made  friends. 

"  Please  give  me  your  baggage  receipt,"  said  Wel- 
etsky.    "  My  carriage  is  ready." 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  69 

"  You  forget  his  most  charming  baggage,"  laughed 
the  princess.  "  I  beUeve  she  is  not  checked.  His 
wife,  La  Belle  Amerieaine.  Go  and  kiss  her  at 
once !  " 

*'  Your  wife,  Laura,  here  ? "  cried  Weletsky. 
"  Why,  you  never  telegraphed  us  she  was  with 
you  ! 

'*  I  telegraphed,  '  Coming'  and  supposed  you 
knew  I  never  left  my  wife  ! "  replied  I,  with  a  horri- 
ble contortion  of  countenance  I  meant  to  be  a  smile. 
The  gallant  Russian  hardly  caught  this  last.  He 
stood  before  my  putative  spouse. 

I  tried  to  introduce  them,  but  the  words  stuck  on 
my  tongue,  when,  to  my  joy,  the  princess  saved  me 
from  the  embarrassment  and  shame  of  presenting 
an  impostor  as  the  mother  of  Marguerite. 

''  I  claim  the  honor,"  cried  the  princess.  "Permit 
me,  Madame  Lenox :  Constantine  Weletsky,  cham- 
berlain of  the  emperor,  the  pet  of  half  the  ladies  in 
Russia." 

At  this  the  veteran  gallant  kissed  Helene's  hand 
with  old-time  grace,  saying:  "Welcome  to  Russia. 
Your  daughter  is  detained  by  a  slight  illness  at  her 
country  estate." 

Marguerite  was  not  in  St.  Petersburg.  Thank 
Heaven  !     This  might  give  me  slight  respite. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed  !  "  Weletsky  added,  hastily,  for 
Helene's  face  was  slightly  pale.  "Nothing  serious; 
she  will  join  us  soon."  Then  looking  upon  the 
beauty  of  his  new-found  relative,  he  cried  :  "  Laura, 
you  are  the  handsomest  and  youngest  grandmother 
on  earth !  "  and  gave  her  an  impetuous  kiss.  To 
which   Helene  answered,  accepting  the  name   and 


70  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

greetings  of  my  true  wife,  while  I  groaned  to  my- 
self in  a  fit  of  unutterable  shame. 

"  Au  revozr,  princess,"  said  he  to  Madame  Palit- 
zin,  offering  Helene  his  arm,  and  marched  out  of 
the  station,  while  I  mechanically  followed,  cursing 
Mrs.  Dick  Gaines's  attractive  charms  and  her  love 
of  admiration  that  had  already  made  her  known 
to  half  a  dozen  of  the  Weletsky  set  as  my  wife. 

We  reached  the  carriage ;  the  chasseur  had  al- 
ready mounted  the  box.  Here  sudden  resolution 
came  to  me.  To  permit  an  impostor  to  take  her 
place  as  my  wife  under  his  welcoming  roof,  and  in 
the  bosom  of  his  family,  would  be  an  outrage  on 
hospitality  that  at  any  cost  I  must  prevent. 

I  laid  a  detaining  hand  upon  the  old  courtier's 
arm,  and  said :  ''  You  must  not  think  of  taking  us 
to  your  house.  I  have  no  doubt  you  have  very 
comfortable  quarters  cu  gar^on  arranged  for  me,  but 
I  could  not  think  of  taxing  you  with  the  unex- 
pected arrival  of  a  lady." 

"Pshaw!  my  dear  Lenox,"  answered  Constantine, 
a  little  impatiently;  "  my  house  can  accommodate 
half  a  regiment." 

But  here  seeing  something  awful  in  my  eye,  Mrs. 
Dick  chimed  in:  "  How  kind  you  are!  But  we  can- 
not come  to  your  house  at  present.  My  trunks 
have  already  been  despatched  to  the  Hotel  de 
I'Europe.    Would  you  part  a  lady  and  her  dresses  ?  " 

*'No,"  muttered  Weletsky.  *' I  am  afraid  that 
might  be  parting  her  from  her  good  nature."  Then 
he  continued,  evidently  disappointed  at  our  not  ac- 
cepting his  hospitality :  *'  But  you  must  come  to 
me  to-morrow;  I  will  take  no  refusal  as  to  that." 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  7I 

"  To-morrow,"  answered  I,  desperately,  anxious 
for  any  respite — anything  to  postpone  the  confes- 
sion this  meeting  must  soon  compel  me  to  make  to 
my  hospitable  relative. 

**  Very  well,"  he  replied.  "  To-morrow  !  But  you 
must  let  me  drive  you  to  the  hotel ;  I  at  least  insist 
on  that." 

With  this  he  assisted  my  putative  spouse  into 
his  handsome  equipage,  and  we  rattled  away  past 
blocks  of  enormous  houses,  arcades,  churches, 
bridges,  all  sombre-tinted  stone.  Myriad  lights 
glistened  as  we  dashed  down  the  crowded  Nevsky 
Perspective.  And  all  this  ride,  to  my  horror  and 
surprise,  Mrs.  Dick  Gaines,  playing  the  anxious 
mother,  questioned  eagerly  as  to  her  daughter's 
health,  doings,  and  occupations.  ''You  don't  know 
how  I've  missed  my  sweet  girl,  Constantine,"  she 
lisped.     "  You  do  not  know  a  mother's  heart." 

A  moment  after  we  were  at  the  hotel. 

Here  Weletsky  made  his  adietix,  remiarking :  "  I 
presume  my  nephews,  Sacha  and  Boris,  will  drop  in 
on  you  this  evening ;  and  you,  Lenox,  if  you  are  not 
too  tired  with  your  journey,  can't  you  come  over 
and  see  me  to-night  ?  To-morrow  my  wife  will  call 
upon  you,  my  charming  little  Americaine."  He 
gave  Helene  another  fraternal  kiss,  then  drove 
away. 

We  were  ushered  into  the  hotel,  and  found  our- 
selves in  a  very  handsome  apartment  en  suite,  look- 
ing out  upon  the  Miachel  Strauss, 

Coming  in  Weletsky's  equipage,  and  being  Amer- 
icans, gave  us  unlimited  prestige  and  credit ;  be- 
sides,  madame's   trunks  were  in  number    and  size 


72  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

impressive  to  the  hotel  clerk  and  wearying  to  the 
hotel  porter. 

These  were  being  arranged  in  a  luxurious  bed- 
room at  one  side  of  our  parlor ;  another  chainbre  d 
coucher^  opening  into  the  salon  from  the  other  side, 
seemed  set  apart  for  my  baggage. 

Looking  upon  this,  Mrs.  Gaines  remarked,  non- 
chalantly tossing  off  shuba  and  furs :  "  You  will 
excuse  me  for  half  an  hour,  Arthur;  my  trunks  are 
here.  I  shall  step  into  the  other  room  and  remove 
some  of  the  railroad  dust.  You  had  better  do  the 
same  in  your  apartment.  Railroad  dust  does  not 
become  you  either." 

She  pointed  across  to  the  other  room,  and  giving 
me  a  ceremonious  bow  and  little  laugh  at  my  ap- 
pearance, which  I  will  own  was  somewhat  dingy, 
disappeared  to  the  mysteries  of  her  toilet. 

Thinking  her  advice  good,  I  took  it. 

Half  an  hour  afterward,  in  the  evening  dress  of 
an  American  gentleman,  which  I  am  happy  to  say 
becomes  my  still  erect  and  martial  figure,  I  reap- 
peared in  our  gorgeous  salon,  where  the  attendants 
were  arranging  a  dinner  for  two. 

"Covers  for  three  !  "  said  I,  promptly. 
.  '■'■  Y ox  three  f  \N2.'=>  echoed  from  the  door  of  the 
opposite  room,  which  was  just  opening.  With  this, 
in  came  Mrs.  Gaines,  with  diamonds  sparkling  on  her 
white  arms  and  neck  and  shoulders,  that  were  bare 
and  dazzling,  though  her  evening  dress  was  more 
that  of  a  girl  than  a  woman,  being  some  white 
thing  that  at  times  clung  to  her,  making  her  a 
statue,  and  at  others  appeared  so  light  and  float- 
ing that  she  seemed  a  sylph. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  73 

"Whom  do  you  expect?"  cried  she,  entering 
rapidly  and  coming  toward  me. 

*'  Dick,  of  course  !    I  am  going  to  find  him." 

"Ah!"  said  the  lady,  playing  with  a  bracelet  on 
her  rounded  arm.  "  Supposing  we  let  Dick  wait  for 
an  hour  or  two." 

"  Perhaps  it  might  be  a  good  idea ;  Dick  has 
been  a  naughty  boy.  Richard  should  be  punished  !  " 
laughed  I,  happy  at  the  idea  of  a  tete-a-tete  meal  with 
the  beauty  before  me — more  happy  that  she  wished  it. 

Suddenly  I  got  a  start.  She  turned  to  the  waiter 
and  said  :  "  I  expect  letters  to  meet  me  here.  Bring 
any  for  Mrs.  Arthur  Lenox  !  " 

The  man  bowed  and  went  on  his  errand. 

Her  continually  taking  the  name  of  my  wife 
annoyed  me. 

"You  keep  up  your  r^/^  well,"  remarked  I.  Then 
I  went  on  sternly  :  "  Too  well !  You  have  even  taken 
my  Laura's  name.  You  have  become  known  as  my 
wife  to  my  daughter's  set  in  St.  Petersburg.  This 
thing  must  stop,  at  once  !  I  know  it  will  be  pretty 
hard  on  poor  Dick.  I  presume  there'll  be  some 
little  scandal  and  talk  about  you,  and  a  very  nasty 
interview  with  my  daughter,  and  perhaps  my  wife, 
for  me ;  but  I  am  going  to  hunt  up  Dick  Gaines 
before  the  hour  is  out;  tell  him  how  I've  helped 
you  out  of  a  scrape  on  the  frontier,  and  youVe  got 
yourself  in  a  worse  one  here ;  and  perhaps,  if  the 
dinner  is  good  enough,  he'll  forgive  us." 

Then  looking  at  the  luxurious  room,  the  table 
with  its  brilliant  wax  lights,  sparkling  crystal,  and 
snowy  linen,  I  cried  with  a  mocking  laugh :  "  What 
would  Dick  Gaines  say  to  this?" 


74  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

I  paused  in  astonishment.  The  servant  had 
brought  her  a  letter — a  letter  addressed  to  my  wife. 
This  she  tore  open  and  glanced  at.  She  turned 
to  me.  I  saw  her  face,  and  the  last  joke  I  ever 
uttered  in  this  world  about  Dick  Gaines  died  on 
my  lips. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MY   WEDDING   DINNER. 

Her  face,  deathly  pale,  had  warning  in  it.  She 
was  gliding  to  the  door  by  which  the  lackey  had 
passed  out.  One  quick,  searching  glance  into  the 
hall,  and  she  closed  and  locked  it  rapidly  but  noise- 
lessly. 

Then  hanging  her  handkerchief  over  the  key,  she 
swept  with  sinuous  grace  to  each  of  the  windows, 
inspected  their  manifold  draperies,  drew  down  the 
only  blind  that  was  up,  passed  to  each  sofa  and 
chair  and  examined  ;  next,  lifting  the  white  coverlid 
of  the  dining-table,  gazed  under  its  handsome  oak. 

This  I  watched,  amazed  and  speechless.  The  hor- 
ror of  the  thing  came  afterward,  as  she  glided  to 
me  and  whispered :  "  I  have  a  few  minutes  to  tell 
you  how  to  save  yourself  and  me." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  gasped  I.  And  as  I 
looked  at  her,  more  amazement  and  more  horror 
came  with  her  movement,  for  this  innocent  child, 
whose  dilemma  at  the  frontier  I  had  made  easy, 
and  whose  road  to  Wilna  and  St.  Petersburg  I 
had  soothed  to  the  best  of  my  masculine  ability, 
was  critically    examining   a   tiny  but   deadly   bull- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  75 

dog  revolver.  Her  eyes  had  grown  bright,  keen, 
resolute,  and  wary.  A  peculiar  flash  was  in  them — 
one  I  had  never  seen  before  in  woman,  but  have 
since  learned  what  it  meant.     Was  she  demented  ? 

I  was  about  to  break  out. 

"  Quiet !  "  she  said.  "  Let  me  speak  and  save  us 
both,  while  I  have  time.  I  have  no  husband  in  St. 
Petersburg — no  husband  upon  this  earth!" 

"  Great  heavens  !  " 

**  I  had  expected  to  leave  you  at  Wilna,  but  the 
message  I  received  there  rendered  it  imperative  that 
I  come  here,  and  you  kindly  offered  to  take  me. 
This  message,"  she  glanced  hurriedly  over  the  note 
in  her  hand,  ''tells  me  that  I  must  use  the  utmost 
caution  here  also.  There  are  spies  about  us — in 
this  hotel.  Please  place  a  cigar  between  your 
lips." 

Mechanically  I  obeyed. 

"  Now  I  will  light  it."  This  she  did,  using  with 
pretty  grace  the  warning  message,  and  so  destroying 
it.  As  it  became  ashes,  she  continued  rapidly:  "  If 
I  leave  you  here,  we  shall  both  be  suspected — both 
be  arrested." 

"  That  will  not  amount  to  much.  We — we  are 
Americans! " 

"You  are,"  she  said,  "but  I  am  not,  though  I 
speak  your  tongue  like  a  native." 

"  Then,  by  Heaven,  who  are  you  ?  "  whispered  I, 
getting  pale  also. 

"  That  I  haven't  time  to  tell  you.  But  it  is  a 
name  they  know  in  this  country  and  fear! " 

"  My  God  !  you  are  a " 

"  Hush  !  "     She  placed  her  hand  on  my  lips,  then 


76  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

went  on  rapidly :  "  When  I  left  Paris,  I  had  hoped 
to  leave  you  here  the  instant  of  my  arrival." 

"  When  you  left  Paris  you  did  not  know  me,"  I 
cried,  astounded. 

"  Pardon  me,  it  was  necessary  for  one  of  us  to 
enter  Russia  to  restore  our  broken  communications 
and  arrange  a  new  cipher,"  she  said,  anxiously  but 
coolly.  "  Do  you  suppose  I  would  have  dared  to 
place  myself  on  the  frontier  of  this  accursed  land 
without  some  plan  as  to  how  I  would  get  across  its 
border  ?  Without  papers  my  arrest  would  have 
been  certain.  That  you  were  leaving  Paris  for  St. 
Petersburg,  with  a  passport  for  yourself  and  wife, 
was  known  to  us.  The  certainty  that  your  wife 
would  not  accompany  you  was  known  ;  also  your 
susceptibility  to  female  loveliness  and  the  softness 
of  your  old  heart  "  (was  she  sneering  at  me  in  my 
agony  ?)  "  were  equally  understood  by  us.  I  trav- 
elled on  the  same  train  with  you  from  Paris  to 
Berlin,  and  from  Berlin  to  Eydtkuhnen,  in  the  full 
expectation  of  being  able  to  cross  the  frontier  and 
journey  on  your  passport,  as  your  wife,  to  Wilna — 
perhaps  St.  Petersburg." 

*'  My  God  !  " 

'*  Here  I  had  hoped  to  leave  you,  but  this  is  im- 
possible.    Hark  !  I  hear  a  step." 

She  glided  to  the  door,  unlocked  it  noiselessly, 
then  turning  to  me,  laughed  :  "  Arthur,  don't  look 
so  glum  and  so  hungry.  Dinner  is  already  here, 
my  impatient  husband,"  as  two  lackeys  ^Dore  the 
same  into  the  apartment.  It  was  a  well-timed 
remark,  for  my  appearance  at  that  moment,  with- 
out   explanation,     would     have    set    a    very    dull 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  >jj 

brain  to  wondering  what  horror  had  come  upon 
me. 

Then  she  sat  down  in  airy  grace  to  play  out  a 
comedy  dinner-scene  with  me,  whose  jokes  must 
have  been  of  a  deathly  nature,  like  my  heart ;  while 
one  garqoii  de  service^  with  a  huge  tray,  arranged 
our  meal,  and  the  other,  a  grave-looking  man, 
poured  out  the  ''  Chambertin"  in  its  wicker  basket, 
and  placed  a  silver  pail  with  the  champagne  "  de 
rigueur  "within  reach. 

The  choice  wines  mocked  my  parched  throat  as  I 
poured  them  down.  I  could  hear  my  heart  beat  in 
unison  with  the  gurgling  fluid,  while  she  sat  smiling 
as  one  of  the  panelled  Watteau  shepherdesses  on  the 
walls,  whose  placid  faces  mocked  my  misery. 

Mechanically  I  passed  the  food  into  my  mouth, 
and  mechanically  swallowed  it,  for  my  mind  was 
almost  a  hideous  blank,  spotted  by  visions  of  Dick 
Gaines — the  knout — snowy  Siberian  wastes — under- 
ground quicksilver  mines — all  done  in  red  and 
bloody   tints. 

So  this  awful  meal  ran  on — soup,  entrees,  roast, 
salad,  a  jumble  of  horror — till  my  companion  said  to 
the  servant  in  attendance  :  "  You  need  remain  no 
longer.  I  can  pour  out  the  coffee  for  my  husband. 
I  know  just  how  he  likes  it — two  lumps  of  sugar  and 
one  tablespoonful  of  kirsch.     Is  it  not,  my  love  ?  " 

As  the  lackey  withdrew,  Helene  passed  to  the 
door,  and  closed  it  after  him.  Then  returning 
quickly,  she  poured  out  the  mocha  as  she  cautiously 
whispered:  *' We  must  remain  here  together,  I  still 
bearing  the  title  of  your  wife." 

"  As   m.y  wife — continue   to  deceive    my  friends. 


78  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

permit  you  to  enter  Weletsky's  home  as  the  mother 
of  Marguerite?     Never!  "  I  gasped. 

"  You  must  not,  you  cannot,  you  dare  not  refuse 
me  !  "  she  continued,  desperately.  ''  Were  it  known 
that  you  gave  passport  to  me  to  Russia,  nothing 
could  save  you  !  " 

"  You  forget  the  American  minister,"  said  I,  be- 
coming cooler  now. 

"  Not  the  influence  of  a  dozen  American  minis- 
ters could  keep  you  from  Siberia — or  worse,'"  she 
whispered,  growing  pale  and  determined  as  I  hesi- 
tated. 

"  Tell  me  who  you  are  !  "  I  cried. 

"  Not  yet  !  "  she  laughed,  a  singular  smile  cross- 
ing her  face.  Then  she  cried  :  "  But  you  will  some 
day  doubtless  hear  of  me." 

''  Whoever  you  are,  you  shall  claim  the  title  of 
my  wife  no  longer !  "  I  replied. 

"  Pardon  me,  I  have  the  right  to  it  in  Russia," 
she  said,  slowly  and  earnestly,  and  perhaps  sadly, 
while  I  stood  petrified.  *'  When  you  transported 
me  across  its  border  on  your  passport  as  your  wife, 
from  that  moment  I  was  known  to  the  Russian  law 
as  your  wife.  The  only  way  of  preventing  the 
misery  that  would  come  to  your  true — your  first 
wife  from  the  knowledge  of  our  transactions,  is  in 
permitting  me  to  be  known  as  your  wife  until  we 
can  leave  Russia.  Furthermore,  it  is  the  only  man- 
ner in  which  you  will  ever  see  your  wife  agam  !  For, 
mark  me,  were  we  both  arrested  to-night,  to-mor- 
row morning  the  world  would  know  you  no  more. 
You  will  have  disappeared  in  Russia.  Silence  is 
your  one  chance." 


MY    OFFICIAL  WIFE. 


79 


"  Pardon  me,  there  is  another,"  I  said,  affecting  a 
coolness  I  did  not  feel. 

^'What?" 

"  I  step  down  to  the  office  of  the  hotel  and  sur- 
render you  to  the  police." 

"  Ah,  how  brave  you  are  !  To  save  yourself  you 
would  give  a  woman,  who  has  trusted  in  your  man- 
hood for  her  safety,  to  horrors  you  do  not  dream 
of  !  "  she  cried,  indignant  scorn  in  her  voice  and  eyes. 
*'  You,  an  American,  with  your  boasted  chivalry  to 
women ;  you — "  Then,  her  voice  growing  winning 
and  persuading,  she  went  on :  ''I  have  known  you 
but  two  days,  and  I  know  you  well  enough  to  be 
sure  that,  with  your  chivalry  and  manhood,  the 
course  you  hint  at  is  impossible." 

She  laid  a  confiding  hand  upon  my  arm,  and  all 
the  time  her  beauty  pleaded  with  me.  Then,  as  I 
turned  my  face  from  her  allurements,  she  contin- 
ued, a  little  smile  flashing  over  her  mobile  features: 
"Besides,  I  have  made  this  impossible." 

''  Impossible  ?  " 

'*  Certainly  ;  you  are  too  much  compromised  now 
yourself.  You  have  deliberately  brought  me  across 
the  border  under  a  false  passport.  You  have  intro- 
duced me  to  Colonel  Petroff,  a  Russian  official,  as 
your  wife.  You  have  registered  me  at  the  Hotel  de 
Wilna  as  your  wife.  You  have  permitted  the  Prin- 
cess Palitzin  to  believe  me  to  be  your  wife.  You 
have  let  her  present  me  to  your  host  and  relative, 
Constantine  Weletsky,  as  your  wife,  and  you  your- 
self have  introduced  me  as  Madame  Lenox  to  the 
head  of  the  Third  Section — the  chief  of  the  secret 
police  I  " 


80  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

*'What — do — you — mean?"  This  was  a  sighing 
gasp,  half  of  unbelief,  half  of  despair,  from  me. 

"  I  mean  Baron  Friedrich,  the  man  you  thought 
was  the  president  of  the  line,  because  the  railroad 
officials  so  cringed  to  him,"  she  continued,  in  mock- 
ing but  convincing  tones — ''  Baron  Friedrich,  who 
kissed  my  hand,  and  muttered,  '  So  young  to  be  a 
grandmamma.' — My  Heaven !  what  did  he  mean  by 
that  ?  Did  he  suspect  ?  "  she  ejaculated,  with  a  sud- 
den quivering  of  her  white  lips.  Then  she  went  on 
desperately :  "  Pshaw  !  Weletsky's  greeting  and  ac- 
knowledgment of  relationship,  and  the  Princess  Pa- 
litzin's  kiss  put  old  blinking  Friedrich  off  his  guard. 
What,  suspect  me,  the  lady  who  is  even  now  admit- 
ted to  the  inner  court  circle  of  the  empire  ? — Go  to 
Baron  Friedrich  and  tell  your  Dick  Gaines  story  to 
him,  and  see  if  he  will  believe  you  innocent  !  " 

But  here,  I,  who  had  gazed  upon  this  priestess  of 
despair  as  if  hypnotized,  broke  in  with  hideous  yel- 
low laugh  •  ''  Eternal  curses  on  Dick  Gaines!  " 

"  Don't  revile  old  friends,"  she  sneered,  in  a  kind 
of  mocking  frenzy  that  would  have  been  fiendish 
save  that  there  were  tears  in  her  voice.  *'  Forgive 
poor  Dick.  I  took  his  name  to  ease  your  nervous 
fears — that  would  have  ruined  me  at  the  frontier. 
Your  life  was  pretty  well  known  to  us  ere  I  left 
Paris,  but  I  only  knew  your  old  chum's  name  ;  con- 
sequently my  indefinite  reply  as  to  Dick's  sister, 
Mamie,  Mrs.  Smith,  now  in  Mexico,  and  my 
maiden  name  of  Vanderbilt-Astor — Americans  are 
only  celebrated  for  their  money  ;  I  took  those  best 
known  in  Europe."  Then  she  paused  ;  her  mocking 
laugh  became  a  sigh,  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes, 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  8l 

and  this  extraordinary  being  murmured :  "  Believe 
me,  if  you  can,  that  I  intended  to  remain  unintro- 
duced  to  your  relatives,  to  leave  you  at  the  station, 
to  come  here  alone  and  let  you  go  to  the  Weletskys  ; 
but  when  I  saw  those  blinking  eyes  upon  me,  and 
heard  the  soft  tones  of  the  autocrat  of  the  secret 
police  murmur,  '  So  young  to  be  a  grandmamma,' 
I — I  dared  not  leave — the  parting  of  man  and  wife 
would  have  been  too  suspicious,  too  peculiar.  For 
my  safety — for  yours,  I  thought  it  best  to  accept 
the  inevitable.  You — you  must  acknowledge  that  I 
helped  save  you  the  disgrace  of  lodging  me  under 
your  friend's  roof  as  your  wife.  Now  !  " — here  her 
mood  changed  again,  her  eyes  sparkled  with  all  the 
fervid  fire  of  martyrdom  ;  her  tones,  though  low, 
were  strident — '^  now  I  am  in  your  hands.  If, 
after  what  I  have  said,  you  think  it  safer  for  yoii^ 
step  to  the  ofifice  of  this  hotel  and  tell  your  story, 
and  I — I  will  only  be  another — who  has  suffered 
death,  torture,  and  shame  for  her  country's  cause. 
If  not,  in  a  few  minutes  they  will  ask  you  for 
your  passport  and  declaration — for  you  and  for  me. 
Make  it  in  the  terms  of  your  passport,  and  I  am, 
in  the  eyes  of  Russian  law,  your  official  wife."  She 
gave  a  furious  blush,  then  gasped  :  "  My  fate  is  in 
your  hands — choose  !  " 

Red,  burning  cheeks  and  embarrassed  manner 
gave  her  new  beauty  as  she  stood — the  lights  flash- 
ing on  her  white  arms  and  gleaming  shoulders — 
with  averted  head  and  drooping  eyes ;  one  hand 
covered  with  jewels  that  flashed  as  her  fingers 
played  nervously  with  the  forks  and  spoons  upon 
the  table. 

6 


82  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

As  I  looked,  her  helplessness  raised  all  the  Amer- 
ican within  me.  I  forgot  her  awful  wrong  to  me. 
Was  I  a  man  that  should  cast  this  refined  woman 
in  her  delicate  loveliness  to  the  brutal  hands  of  the 
vodki-sodden  Russian  police? 

I  spoke  hoarsely.  "  Enough  !  I  make  the  decla- 
ration.    I  announce  you  as  My  Official  Wife  !  " 

"  Then — then  you  are  not  sorry  I  am  not  Dick 
Gaines's  spouse  ?  "  she  asked,  in  faltering  tones,  and 
with  a  glance  full  of  latent  coquetry,  which  mad- 
dened me. 

"Thank  God!  you  are  no  wife  to  friend  of 
mine,"  I  cried  with  an  emphasis,  the  diablerie  of 
which  made  her  cower  from  me. 

As  she  did  so,  a  tap  at  the  door,  and  the  secre- 
tary of  the  hotel  entered  for  my  passport  for  trans- 
mission to  the  police. 

I   MADE   THE   DECLARATION  ! 

The  official  left  the  room,  and  she,  my  Circe,  stood 
at  the  door  of  her  chamber,  triumph  in  her  eye. 

Then  one  of  her  sudden  metamorphoses  came 
upon  her.  This  woman  of  the  world's,  this  political 
conspirator's  manner  became  childlike.  She  had 
been  a  statue ;  now  she  was  a  sylph,  that  pouted 
like  a  spoiled  child,  "  Now  you  know  I  am  not  Mrs. 
Dick  Gaines,  I  shall  not  receive  so  much  attention 
from  you  ?  " 

"  On  the  contrary,"  I  cried,  "  you  shall  receive 
much  more !  "  As  I  sprang  toward  her,  Helene  gave 
a  little  cr>'  and  disappeared.  The  lock  cHcked  in 
her  door,  her  laugh  came  to  me  from  the  other  side. 

What  did  I  care  ?  She  should  not  forever  laugh 
at  me.     The  thousand  emotions  of  the  last  hour  had 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  83 

made  me  desperate.  I  could  play  a  man's  game 
anywhere.  I  would  do  it  now !  No  doubt  a  short 
and  merry  one — but  vive  la  bagatelle  I 

I  tossed  off  a  glass  of  champagne,  and  looking  at 
the  glass  and  china  and  linen  of  our  almost  untasted 
banquet,  I  muttered  hoarsely  :  ''  JSIy  official  wedding 
dinner  !  "  then  threw  myself  into  a  chair  and  burst 
into  a  laugh  that  tried  to  be  merry.  I — the  crimi- 
nal of  a  day — the  d^class^ — the  fugitive  from  the 
Russian  secret  police — I — the  lost — the  ruined — the 
despairing ! 


BOOK   II. 
A    Horrible    Honeymoon. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


OPENING   JOYS. 


I  don't  know  how  long  I  remained  in  a  meditation 
that  was  half  wild  agitation,  half  comatose  despair. 
Probably  a  very  few  minutes.  Then  a  rap  at  the 
door  started  me  up.  Was  it  the  dreaded  Third  Sec- 
tion? Had  Baron  Friedrich  suspected  us  on  the 
train  ?  were  his  emissaries  already  upon  us  ?  They 
generally  made  their  arrests  at  night,  I  had  read  in 
one  of  Stepniak's  books,  the  horrors  of  whose  pages 
now  came  vividly  home  to  me. 

A  noise  came  in  over  the  transom. 

My  Heaven !  it  was  the  clinking  of  handcuffs. 

I  staggered  to  the  door  and  opened  it. 

A  waiter  stood  there  with  a  silver  tray  and  snuffers 
for  the  wax  candles  of  our  dinner  table.  To  kill 
time  he  had  been  tapping  one  upon  the  other, 
nearly  killing  me  with  fear  and  faint  heart. 

"  Might  he  remove  the  dinner  service?  "  the  man 
inquired. 

'^Certainly!"  Here  I  got  back  to  the  table  and 
gulped  down  another  brandy.     My  drink  was  broken 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  85 

in  upon  by  another  lackey,  bearing  the  cards  of  Boris 
Weletsky,  a  lieutenant  in  the  imperial  navy,  and 
Major  Alexander  Weletsky  of  the  Chevalier  Garde. 

These  gentlemen  had  called  to  pay  their  respects 
to  Colonel  and  Madame  Lenox. 

''  Show  them  up  !  "  I  ordered.  I  could  hardly 
refuse  to  receive  the  nephews  of  Constantine  ;  be- 
sides, in  my  present  state  of  mind  any  company 
was  better  than  my  own. 

I  stepped  to  Helene's  door,  and  in  answer  to  my 
knock  my  official  bride  replied,  rather  shortly,  that 
she  was  busy  with  her  trunks. 

**  To-morrow  morning,  my  dear,"  she  laughed. 
**  See  you  at  breakfast." 

"  But  this  evening  we  have  guests,  two  hand- 
some young  officers,  Boris  and  Sacha  Weletsky." 

"Ah!" 

"  Yes  ;  that'll  fetch  you,  my  sweet  love !  "  I  cried 
savagely. 

"  It  will,  my  own,"  she  said  sweetly. 

At  this  moment  the  two  gentlemen  entered — 
Boris  Weletsky  in  his  naval  uniform,  his  brother  in 
the  gorgeous  trappings  of  the  cavalry  of  the  guard. 
Boris  had  a  stolid  but  honest  manner  about  him, 
large  blue  eyes  that  looked  you  very  straight  in  the 
face,  and  a  hand  whose  grasp  was  from  the  heart. 
His  elder  brother  was  as  unlike  him  as  his  flashy 
uniform  was  different  from  the  unpretentious  blue 
of  the  navy  :  over  six  feet  in  height,  with  brilliant 
dark  eyes,  curly  hair,  mustache  a  la  iniliiaire,  and 
a  showy,  impulsive  way  that  would  make  him  very 
dangerous  to  some  women. 

The  usual  salutations  being  interchanged,   Boris 


86  MY  OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

remarked,  apologetically  :  "  I  am  afraid  our  visit  is 
ill-timed.  You,  I  can  see,  my  dear  colonel,  are  nerv- 
ous." 

''  Good  heavens  !  "  thought  I,  "  does  my  manner 
betray  me  so  completely?  " 

"And  madame,"  continued  Boris,  "  is  too  fatigued 
to  see  us.  That  will  be  a  great  disappointment  to 
you,  Sacha,  as  well  as  to  me,"  said  he,  turning  to  his 
brother  with  a  little  laugh. 

*' And  they  use  the  diminutive  to  you,  a  giant !  " 
said  I,  looking  at  his  six  feet  of  athletic  sinew  and 
muscle. 

''  It  is  the  name  the  ladies  best  like  to  call  him," 
remarked  Boris. 

''  Yes,"  laughed  the  young  guardsman.  "  My 
enemies  address  me  as  Alexander,  and  my  friends 
style  me  Sacha.  I  trust,  colonel,  that  you  will  enroll 
yourself  among  my  intimates  and  call  me  Sacha 
also." 

Her  door  was  opening,  and  Helene,  coming  in, 
caught  the  last  remark. 

She  gave  the  handsome  mustachioed  creature  a 
smile  of  welcome,  and  murmured  :  "  And  I  also." 

''  That  I  will,  via  cousine^'  cried  Sacha,  and  with 
the  impetuosity  of  youth  and  the  boldness  of  a 
guardsman,  he  gave  "  my  official  wife  "  a  kiss,  too 
cordial  to  be  quite  cousinly.  This  salutation,  after 
the  custom  of  the  country,  was  repeated  by  Boris, 
though  in  a  much  less  ardent  manner. 

I  could  see  the  man-snaring  beauty  of  Mrs.  Lenox, 
n^e  Gaines,  n^e  Vanderbilt-Astor,  had  already  caught 
the  eyes  of  both,  and  perhaps  the  heart  of  one,  of 
the   tv/o    gentlemen  who  stood  gazing  at  her  with 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  8/ 

admiration,  as  she  motioned  them  to  reseat  them- 
selves. 

*'  And  this  is  the  grandmamma  ?  "  laughed  Sacha. 

"  No  wonder,"  cried  Boris,  with  the  bluntness  of 
a  sailor,  "  we  heard  of  you,  Laura,  at  the  Opera." 

''At  the  Opera?  Who  spoke  of  me?"  asked 
Helene,  answering  readily,  I  noted  with  internal 
anger,  to  the  name  of  my  true  wife  in  far-away 
Paris. 

"Oh,  Palikoff  of  the  Preobrashensky ;  also  Prince 
Oboresky.  They  met  you  at  the  station  with  the 
Palitzins,"  chimed  in  the  soldier. 

''  Ah  !  yes ;  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Captain 
Palikoff  and  Prince  Oboresky,  my  cousin,"  lisped 
Helene  languidly,  with  perchance  a  little  emphasis 
on  the  relationship.  "  And  what  did  they  say  of 
me?"  Then  she  suddenly  cried  :  ''No,  no!  I  see 
you  are  both  going  to  speak  at  once.  It's  a  com- 
pliment, and  I  won't  take  them  second-hand!" 

"  But  it  is  an  epigram  !  "  answered  Boris.  "  Old 
Oboresky  will  despair  if  it  is  not  repeated." 

"  Then,  you  tell  me,"  laughed  Helene,  looking  at 
Sacha. 

"  He  said,  '  I  have  met  at  the  station  to-day  a 
woman  who,  parbleu  I  was  beautiful  after  a  two 
days'  railroad  journey.'  " 

"  What  must  she  have  been  when  she  started  !  " 
cried  Boris. 

"  What,  indeed  ? "  laughed  Helene,  blushing 
slightly. 

"  That  I  came  here  to  see,"  remarked  Sacha,  with 
a  profound  bow.  "  And  to  think,"  he  went  on,  as 
if  speaking  to  himself,  "if  I  had  not  been  on  duty 


88  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

to-day,  I  should  have  been  at  the  railroad  station 
and  seen  you  two  hours  ago."  His  dark  eyes  em- 
phasized this  speech  wonderfully. 

''You  would  have  come  to  the  train  to  meet  me? 
How  delightful !  "  cried  Helene. 

**  I  hope  also  to  see  his  affianced,  the  Princess 
Dozia  Palitzin,"  remarked  Boris. 

At  which  reminder  of  his  plighted  troth  Sacha 
gave  his  brother  an  awful  glance ;  then  his  eyes 
scintillated  and  flashed  with  some  tenderer  passion 
as  they  met  those  of  the  lady,  whose  orbs  seemed  to 
answer  him. 

Here  I  chimed  in,  not  altogether  liking  these 
bows  and  eye  glances  and  cousinly  familiarities 
from  the  handsome  guardsman  to  my  "  official 
wife."  The  conversation  became  more  general ; 
Sacha  giving  us  the  small  talk  of  the  court  circle, 
and  Boris,  sailor-like,  expatiating  on  the  beauty  and 
speed  of  his  torpedo  despatch  boat,  the  Vsadnik. 

Then,  in  spite  of  me,  the  party  became  arranged 
into  two  groups,  Boris  talking  to  me  at  one  side  of 
the  table,  and  Helene* and  Sacha  prattling  to  each 
other  upon  a  sofa,  of  which  they  had  taken  joint 
possession. 

What  their  conversation  was  I  cannot  exactly 
tell.  A  man's  mind  is  not  at  its  best  when  full  of 
the  terrors  of  a  Russian  criminal.  However,  it  was 
of  a  nature  that,  beginning  frivolously  with  laugh- 
ter and  jest,  soon  became  confidential,  both  lady 
and  gentleman  speaking  in  low  tones,  which  Helene 
occasionally  emphasized  by  a  shrug  of  her  snowy 
shoulders,  and  Sacha  by  glanees  that  I  presume  he 
thought  killing. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  89 

In  fact,  under  my  own  indignant  eyes,  it  seemed 
to  me  that,  for  a  new-made  official  bride,  the  lady 
was  indulging  in  a  very  rapid  flirtation. 

During  this,  as  well  as  my  feelings  would  permit 
me  to  comprehend,  Boris  told  me  several  interest- 
ing items  of  my  daughter's  life  in  Russia ;  also 
some  anecdotes  of  Constantine  Weletsky,  whom 
he  called  *'  the  noblest  old  Russian  left  from  the 
reign  of  Alexander  Second,"  and  said :  "  You'll  love 
him  as  well  as  we  do  when  you  know  him  as  well." 

Then  this  young  gentleman  arose  to  go,  probably 
noticing  my  preoccupation,  which  he  attributed 
presumably  to  Sacha's  behavior  with  my  wife,  as  he 
gave  that  gentleman  a  reproving  glance  ;  also  possi- 
bly not  finding  my  conversation  as  interesting  as 
his  brother  did  that  of  the  lady  seated  beside  him 
on  the  sofa.  As  Boris  arose,  however,  he  gave  me 
some  information  that  startled  me. 

"  Perhaps  you  have  not  heard,"  he  remarked, 
"  that  Marguerite  leaves  her  estates  in  Rjasam  the 
day  after  to-morrow?" 

*'  My  daughter  leaving  the  day  after  to-morrow  ?  " 
I  ejaculated,  starting  up,  with  an  agitation  that  he 
mistook  for  joy, 

"Yes;  she'll  be  here  in  three  days.  I  thought  it 
would  make  you  happy.  You  have  not  seen  her 
for  nearly  two  years,"  he  said,  preparing  to  resume 
his  hat  and  cloak. 

His  hint  for  departure  was  taken  rather  sulkily  by 
Sacha,  who  arose  reluctantly,  saying:  "To-morrow 
I  shall  call  again,  ma  cousmc,  and  hope  to  show  you 
the  delights  of  St.  Petersburg.  I  shall  come  alone  : 
no  brother  shall  be  with  me,  impatient  for  the  joys  of 


90  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

the  baccarat  tables  at  the  Yacht  Club  ;  consequently 
I  hope  to  remain  longer." 

"  Baccarat  tables  at  the  Yacht  Club — that  is  your 
passion,  Sacha,"  rejoined  Boris.  Then  turning  to 
me,  he  remarked :  "  Constantine  has  placed  your 
name  up  at  that  institution.  We  may  expect  to 
have  many  pleasant  times  together,  colonel."  With 
this  he  gave  me  a  grip  of  the  hand,  and  madame  a 
cordial  bow.  The  grip  of  the  hand  was  repeated 
by  Sacha  to  me,  but  to  madame  he  gave  another 
cousinly  kiss,  for  which  I  cursed  him  under  my 
breath,  though  too  much  agitated  at  the  certain 
discovery  my  daughter's  visit  to  St.  Petersburg 
would  bring  to  me  and  the  woman  standing  beside 
me  to  devote  much  time  to  discussing  this  new 
phase  in  my  official  honeymoon. 

The  young  men's  parting  steps  died  away.  I 
turned  savagely  upon  Helene,  and  whispered  :  "  You 
have  again  dared  to  answer  to  Laura,  the  name  of 
my  wife." 

''Pardon  me,"  she  said.  ''It  is  necessary  to  our 
safety  that  I  should  answer  to  her  name ;  but  if  you 
are  going  to  get  angry,  Arthur,  please  close  the 
door.  You  might  raise  your  voice,  and  our  discus- 
sion bring  ruin  to  us  both." 

I  gave  the  door  a  bang,  and  said,  sarcastically  :  "  I 
presume  you  would  like  me  to  call  you  Laura 
also  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  safer,"  she  said  ;  "  muc/i  !  But  per- 
haps you  may  compromise  with  your  conscience  by 
styling  me  madame,  or,  if  you  call  me  Helene,  tell- 
ing your  relatives  that  it  is  your  pet  name  for  your 
wife." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  9 1 

"  Conscience  !"  cried  I.  "What  has  conscience 
to  do  with  the  matter?  " 

She  grew  confused  at  this,  and  muttered :  "  I 
hope  it  has  in — in  your  case." 

"  It  has,"  I  said,  scornfully,  "  with  regard  to  others. 
To-morrow,  the  wife  of  Constantine  Weletsky  will 
come  to  visit  you.  To-morrow  we  shall  be  enter- 
tained under  his  roof.  There  you  will  be  honored 
as  my  wife — as  the  mother  of  my  child.  That 
shall  never  be,  until  I  have  explained  the  whole 
matter  to  Constantine  Weletsky  himself." 

"That  will  be  your  ruin  or  his,"  answered  Hel- 
ene  suddenly.  "  He  would  be  compelled,  as  an  offi- 
cer of  the  government,  as  a  subject  of  the  czar,  to 
reveal  everything  to  the  police  authorities  on  the  in- 
stant. Failing  to  do  this,  he  would  become  criminal 
with  us.  Discovered,  his  name  would  be  crossed 
from  the  list  of  the  nobility,  his  estates  confiscated. 
Tell  him  our  story — there  are  but  two  courses  be- 
fore him.  One  is  to  inform  the  police  and  destroy 
you,  his  relative  and  guest ;  the  other  is,  for  your 
sake,  to  prevent  your  punishment,  to  withhold  it. 
If  he  does  the  first,  we  are  both  lost.  If  he  chooses 
the  second,  discovery  means  ruin  to  him  also." 

The  truth  and  logic  of  her  remarks  were  palpable. 
Under  these  circumstances,  for  Weletsky's  own  sake 
and  safety  my  lips  must  be  closed  to  him. 

"  So  you  are  not  going  to  inform  upon  us  just 
yet !  "  she  said,  in  a  mocking  tone.  "  I  am  still  to 
be  your  official  wife  for  a  day  or  so." 

"  No  !  "  I  cried  ;  "  not  for  half  an  hour  more. 
My  honor  will  not  permit  this  deception  to  con- 
tinue." 


92  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

I  was  getting  nearer  to  the  door.  I  took  my  hat 
in  my  hand.     I  was  putting  on  my  overcoat. 

She  had  grown  very  pale. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  she  gasped. 

"  To  our  friend,  our  mutual  friend,  Baron  Fried- 
rich,"  I  jeered,  gaining  the  door  of  the  apartment. 

As  I  did  so,  her  voice,  that  had  been  excited, 
became  soft  and  sad — and  came  faintly  to  me. 

She  said  :  ''  Then,  before  you  go — please  bid  me 
good-by  and  forgive  me,  for  this  is  the  last  you  will 
ever  see  of  me " 

"  The  last " 

*'  Certainly  !  V021  will  not  be  permitted  to  leave 
the  police-station.  / — I  shall  be  in  the  underground 
cells  across  the  river.  Forgive  me — I — I  forgive  you. 
I  am  the  last  woman  you  will  ever  speak  to  upon 
earth ;  you  are  the  last  man  whose  hand  I  shall  ever 
clasp  in  this  world — the  hand  that  sentences  me." 
She  had  my  hand  in  hers  now ;  for  I  had  left  the 
door  at  her  words,  which  were  not  of  a  nature  to 
increase  my  desire  to  see  Baron  Friedrich. 

"  And  you,"  she  went  on,  **  whatever  they  do  to 
you — no  matter  the  torture,  the  despair — you — 
you  will  forgive  me  who  brought  you  to  the  sham- 
bles, the  gallows !  " 

*'  Yes,"  I  sighed,  and  sank  down  upon  the  sofa. 

*'  You — you  were  jealous  of  me.  I  was  not  distant 
enough  to  the  major  of  the  Garde.  Pough  !  "  she 
whispered.  ''  Do  you  suppose  I  care  for  him  or  any 
other  Russian — save  for  his  ruin  and  despair — I — 
whose  mother  was " 

She  checked  herself  suddenly  and  went  on 
haughtily  :  "  My  family  affairs  would   not   interest 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  93 

you  ;  my  political  ones — your  peculiar  relation  to 
me  gives  you  a  right  to  know  ;  in  fact,  are  vital  to 
your  safety,  in  case  you  do  not  finish  the  affair  by 
a  visit  to  Baron  Friedrich  to-night.  The  communi- 
cation between  the  circles  of  our  order  in  Russia 
and  our  organizations  in  the  outside  world  have 
been  cut  off  by  the  secret  police,  who  have  dis- 
covered our  cipher  and  means  of  carrying  de- 
spatches across  the  border.  If  we  cannot  act  to- 
gether our  cause  is  at  an  end.  To  arrange  a  new 
cipher  and  other  means  of  communication,  I  have 
taken  my  life  in  my  hand  and  reached  St.  Peters- 
burg by  assuming  a  relationship  to  you  of  which 
you  apparently  would  take  advantage." 

"  You  have  my  life — am  I  to  have  nothing  in 
return?"  I  whispered,  hoarsely;  for  in  all  this  in- 
terview we  spoke  under  our  breaths,  fearing  the 
very  walls  as  spies. 

"  And  for  it  you  would  take  my  honor !  "  she  an- 
swered, growing  noble  and  commanding,  but  oh,  so 
beautiful !  ''  My  life  is  my  country's  ;  so  is  my  honor 
if  need  be.  I  am  defenceless  against  you,  because  I 
have  not  yet  fulfilled  my  mission.  If  you  betray 
me  to  the  police  to-night,  I  shall  be  unable  to  de- 
liver the  new  cipher  and  new  instructions  to  our 
order  here  ;  our  cause  is  postponed,  perhaps  lost. 
Therefore,  I  am  in  your  hands — helpless — defence- 
less. If  you  are  a  man,  be  merciful.  If  you  are  a 
coward,  take  what  the  gods  have  given  you  I  " 

She  looked  me  straight  in  the  eyes,  then  swept 
into  her  room  with  the  face  of  a  Boadicea  going  to 
endure  the  Roman  rods,  leaving  the  portals  wide 
open. 


94  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

I  arose,  the  good  and  evil  fighting  within  me. 
Then  I  staggered  to  the  door  leading  to  the  hallway. 

I  had  got  it  half  open,  when  she  was  at  my  side 
whispering  :  "  You  go  to  Baron  Friedrich's  ?  " 

*'  No ;  to  the  Yacht  Club  !  "  I  gasped. 

"  God  bless  you  !  "  she  cried.  "  I  knew  I  could 
trust  an  American  gentleman." 

Then  somehow  I  got  away,  and  reached  the 
offices  of  the  hotel,  at  this  late  hour  in  the  evening 
partially  deserted  by  loungers  and  attendants.  I 
had  passed  through  it  but  three  hours  before,  on  my 
way  from  the  station,  excited,  worried  perhaps,  but 
not  as  I  was  now. 

Everything  seemed  changed  to  me.  The  haunt- 
ing terrors  of  suspicion,  the  miserable  anxieties  of 
a  fugitive  from  justice — Russian  justice — were  upon 
me;  the  terrors  of  its  awful  punishments  had  be- 
come known  to  me  by  fearful  Nihilist  novels  and 
the  daily  dished  up  newspaper  sensations  of  the  out- 
side world  for  the  last  two  generations  in  regard  to 
Muscovite  barbarity. 

The  clerk  at  the  office  smilingly  asked  me  if  I  had 
lost  any  luggage. 

He  had  noted  my  nervous  manner.  Was  this 
question  one  to  draw  me  out  ?  Was  this  polite 
creature  one  of  the  agents  of  the  Third  Section  ? 

"No-o!"I  stammered;  then,  recovering  myself, 
I  asked  to  be  directed  to  the  Yacht  Club. 

Impressed  by  the  mention  of  this  most  exclusive 
establishment,  he  placed  me  in  charge  of  a  va/e^  de 
place. 

We  descended  the  stairs ;  two  hall  porters  bowed 
to   me   and   said    a   few   words   to    each   other   in 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  95 

Russian,  then  looked  after  my  retreating  form. 
Could  they  be  spies  also  ?  Everything  was  now 
suspicion  and  terror. 

In  the  courtyard  my  attendant  soon  found  me  a 
carriage.  As  he  extended  his  hand  for  his  tip  he 
bowed  to  the  ground  before  me.  I  thought  there 
was  suspicion  in  his  look.  The  very  yell  of  the 
driver  of  the  vehicle  made  me  start. 

A  few  minutes'  rattling  between  the  granite 
buildings  of  the  Nevsky  gave  me  time  to  compose 
myself,  I  soon  found  myself  on  the  Grand  Mor- 
skaja,  and  at  the  doors  of  the  most  fashionable  club 
in  St.  Petersburg — as  well  as  the  most  hospitable  to 
those  permitted  to  enter  its  doors. 

My  card  of  admission  was  waiting  for  me,  thanks  to 
the  forethought  of  Constantine  Weletsky.  In  a  few 
minutes  I  was  in  that  luxurious  apartment  devoted 
to  the  highest  play  and  the  most  reckless  gambling 
in  Europe — probably  in  the  world  ;  for  the  Ameri- 
can Indian  will  only  stake  his  horse  and  blankets 
and  gun,  his  wife  and  his  whole  family,  but  the 
Tartar  will  peril  his  very  soul  as  well  upon  the  roll 
of  a  die  or  the  turn  of  a  card. 

The  room  was  dotted  over  with  gorgeous  uniforms, 
some  of  which  glittered  with  orders  gained  in  two, 
perchance  three,  wars  ;  this  dazzling  effect  being 
toned  down  by  a  few  unpretentious  diplomatic  cos- 
tumes, a  sprinkling  of  ordinary  evening  dress  suits, 
and  one  or  two  uniforms  of  navy  blue. 

Among  these  I  easily  caught  sight  of  Boris,  who, 
coming  up  to  me  with  ready  and  cordial  hospitality, 
cried  out  in  sailor  voice  :  "  Madame  was  fatigued,  eh  ? 
So  you  have  come  down  to  make  a  night  of  it  with 


96  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

US  ?  Sacha  is  already  engaged  " — he  glanced  at  the 
baccarat  table  where  his  brother  was  playing  in 
reckless,  excitable  Slavic  manner — "  so  I  shall  pre- 
sent you  to  our  friends.  You  are  already  known  by 
reputation  ;  your  wife  has  made  you  famous." 

With  this  he  introduced  me  to  a  crowd  of  the 
celebrities  and  fashionables  of  St.  Petersburg,  who 
were  very  cordial  and  hospitable  to  the  American 
colonel  who  had  brought  the  coming  belle  of  the 
winter  season — so  they  said  in  their  barbaric,  com- 
plimentary way — ''  to  make  Paris  desolate  and  St. 
Petersburg  happy." 

With  these  gentlemen,  cigars  ad  libitiim^  and  iced 
champagne — the  favorite  drink  of  the  Northern  cap- 
ital— ad  nauseam^  I  contrived  to  make  a  wild  and 
desperate  night  of  it.  I  drowned  anxiety  in  dissipa- 
tion and  quieted  my  nerves  by  nicotine.  Then  I 
risked  a  few  roubles  at  the  table  and  won,  and  soon, 
with  that  peculiar  luck  that  comes  to  men  in  certain 
desperate  stages  of  their  careers,  had  heaped  enough 
billets  de  banque  in  front  of  me  to  permit  me  a  very 
extravagant  life  for  the  next  few  days. 

"■  My  dear  colonel,  come  and  bring  me  American 
luck  ;  the  Russian  article  has  deserted  me  this  even- 
ing," cried  Sacha  from  his  end  of  the  table,  where 
fortune  had  been  dealing  unkindly  with  him. 

A  moment  after  he  sneered :  "  Lucky  at  cards, 
unlucky  at  love." 

"  Then,  Sacha,"  cried  a  young  man  sitting  beside 
him,  "  you  should  never  dare  the  baccarat  table  after 
the  ballerina  deserted  a  grand  duke  at  your  nod." 

"■  No  more  I  will ! "  he  cried,  and  with  a  muttered 
curse  threw  down  the  cards. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  97 

A  few  minutes  after,  I  left  the  table,  where  the 
conversation,  now  his  back  was  turned,  indicated  to 
me  that  Major  Sacha  Weletsky  had  the  reputation, 
even  in  this  licentious  capital,  of  being  about  the 
most  confirmed  as  well  as  the  most  successful  rake 
that  had  ever  rode  in  the  Chevalier  Garde  past  the 
czar,  and  that  is  saying  a  great  deal  for  a  young 
man  not  over  twenty-eight. 

*' You  should  give  up  the  fickle  goddess,"  re- 
marked Boris  to  his  reprobate  brother.  "  If  you 
play  so  recklessly  it  may  come  to  the  ears  of  the 
czar,  who  does  not  like  his  officers  to  become  too 
notorious  at  the  card  table." 

''  Pish  !  "  cried  Sacha.  "  No  gentleman  here  would 
report  me,  and  as  for  the  servants " 

''  Half  of  them  are  spies,"  interrupted  Boris.  "  So 
be  careful." 

At  the  word  '*  spies "  my  anxieties  and  terrors 
came  upon  me  again.  I  attempted  a  laugh,  and 
remarked :  "  I  suppose  Baron  Friedrich  himself 
sometimes  drops  in  on  you  here  ?  " 

"What!  that  canaille?''  cried  Alexander,  wine 
having  apparently  made  him  thoughtless.  "  He 
could  no  more  enter  here  than  he  could  the  gates  of 
heaven — save  on  official  business,  and  by  order  of 
the  czar.  The  Imperial  Yacht  Club  does  not  admit 
German  parve?ius  within  its  doors,  even  if  they  are 
expert  policemen.  Ah  !  Platoff  has  taken  the  bank. 
I  always  win  from  that  Cossack."  And  Sacha  re- 
turned to  baccarat  again,  Boris  remarking  he  would 
walk  as  far  as  the  hotel  with  me. 

As  we  passed  out  of  the  club,  the  dusk  of  morn- 
ing fell  upon  our  steps. 
7 


98  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

The  sailor-lieutenant  accompanied  me  to  the  door 
of  the  De  I'Europe,  chatting  with  the  freedom  of  a 
relative,  chiefly  of  his  brother. 

"  He  is  very  wild,"  he  said.  '*  We  all  hope  his 
marriage  will  quiet  him.  You  saw  his  fiancee  on 
the  train,  I  believe,  the  Princess  Dozia  Palitzin — a 
lovely  girl,  very  young  and  a  great  heiress.  But 
Sacha  neglects  even  her,  running  after  every  new 
and  beautiful  face  ;  sometimes,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
with  too  much  success." 

Was  this  intended  to  warn  me  to  guard  my  offi- 
cial Avife  from  this  military  Lothario  ?  Apparently 
not,  as  the  sailor  immediately  turned  to  society 
topics ;  telling  me  of  the  great  ball  that  the  Count- 
ess Ignatief  was  about  to  give,  for  which  he  should 
exert  himself  to  obtain  for  us  cards.  '^  That  will 
be  comparatively  easy,"  he  said.  '*  The  countess 
makes  a  point  of  having  all  great  beauties  at  her 
fetes:' 

Here  he  was  suddenly  interrupted ;  a  half-dozen 
men,  un-uniformed,  crossed  the  street  rapidly  in 
front  of  us  and  passed  down  a  smaller  one  running 
at  right  angles  out  of  it. 

We  reached  the  corner  and  I  looked  after  them. 
They  were  before  the  door  of  a  house,  that  opened 
to  them  in  a  moment.  As  they  entered,  the  noise 
of  distant  struggle,  mingled  with  a  woman's  cries, 
came  to  me. 

**  A  fire  !  "  I  exclaimed,  and  was  about  to  run  to 
it,  a  rAinericame,  when  Boris's  clutch  was  on  my 
arm. 

"  We're  not  wanted  there,"  he  said,  significantly; 
"it  is  a  police  affair." 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  99 

"  A-ah,  some  crime — murder,  perhaps  !  "  answered 
I,  for  a  closed  van  was  drawing  up  in  front  of  the 
house,  and  into  it  two  men  and  a  woman,  all  bound 
and  silent  now,  were  being  thrown. 

"  Come  away,"  said  Boris,  hastily,  and  we  moved 
on.  ''  If  it  is  a  murder,  you'll  read  the  official  re- 
port of  it  to-morrow ;  if  it  is  what  I  imagine " 

^' I'll  read?" 

*•  Nothing!" 

*'Why,  in  America  there  would  be  twenty  re- 
porters on  the  spot  by  this  time,  and  big  head-lines 
in  to-morrow's  papers." 

"  American  journals  wouldn't  last  long  in  this 
country — nor  American  reporters  either,"  said  the 
lieutenant  in  a  very  significant  tone,  one  that  set 
me  to  thinking  and  my  nerves  to  quivering. 

Noting  my  preoccupied  manner,  my  companion 
said  but  little.  We  were  soon  at  the  hotel,  and, 
with  a  cordial  grasp  of  the  hand,  this  honest  young 
Muscovite  sailor  left  me. 

I  went  upstairs,  and,  entering  my  apartments  with 
a  pass  key,  found  the  sa/on  as  I  had  left  it.  The 
lights  were  turned  down  ;  Helene's  door  was  open 
wide.  Should  I  take  a  peep  at  sleeping  beauty  ? 
Curiosity  overcame  resolution;   I  looked  in. 

Great  heavens  !  the  bed  had  not  been  used,  the 
room  was  empty.  With  a  gasp  of  dismay,  I  sank 
into  a  chair.     What  had  happened  ? 

Recovering  from  the  shock,  my  mind  began  to  act. 
I  made  a  hasty  search  ;  her  boxes,  trunks,  and  band- 
boxes were  there,  even  her  jewels,  but  no  Helene. 

Where  had  she  gone,  what  had  happened  to  her  ? 
Had  she  attempted  to  communicate  with  her  order 


100  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

— had  she  been  arrested  ?  My  heavens  !  was  she  the 
silent  woman  I  had  seen  thrown  like  a  trussed-up 
lamb  into  the  police-van  ? 

I  shuddered  at  this,  not  for  my  own  fate,  but  for 
hers  ;  for  in  all  this  affair  one  astonishing  part  of  it 
was  that  I  never  grew  angry  at  her  for  the  risk  she 
had  placed  upon  me,  though  often  ready  to  destroy 
her  for  her  coquetries,  that  drove  me  mad  with  im- 
potent jealousy. 

A  few  seconds'  thought  convinced  me  my  only 
course  was  inaction  ;  to  announce  her  absence  to 
the  office  of  the  hotel  would  be  more  than  dangerous. 

It  would  appear  more  innocent  in  me,  in  case  of 
trouble,  to  know  nothing  of  Helene's  being  out.  I 
slipped  into  my  own  room,  hastily  threw  off  my 
clothes,  and,  creeping  into  bed,  waited  with  anxious 
ears  for  Helene's  coming  steps. 

But  after  a  little  the  generous  draughts  of  Yacht 
Club  Cliquot  began  to  affect  me  ;  I  grew  drowsy, 
and  fell  into  a  sleep,  to  dream  of  horrors  I  shall 
remember  while  life  lasts.  Great  Scott,  what  an 
official  honeymoon ! 


CHAPTER   Vni. 

I   LUNCH   WITH    BARON   FRIEDRICH. 

A  TAPPING  on  my  door  awoke  me  ;  a  fresh  voice 
was  crying:  "Arthur,  what  are  you  dreaming  about  ? 
Your  groans  will  arouse  the  hotel !  " 

I  arose  with  a  start.  What  was  the  matter  with 
me  ?     The  sun  was  shining  brightly  in  my  window. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  lOI 

What  ghastly  thing  was  hanging  over  me  that  made 
my  waking  from  that  awful  dream  only  a  respite  ? 

-Arthur!" 

Her  voice — I  knew  !  I  sprang  from  the  bed  as  if 
it  had  been  electrized,  for  I  remembered. 

*'  Arthur,  my  dear  !  " 

''What  is  it!"  I  called. 

*'  Breakfast,  my  love.  You're  awfully  late — the 
trout  are  growing  cold,"  cried  my  spouse /r(?  tern. 

A  hasty  toilet,  and  I  stepped  out  to  meet  the 
embarrassments,  perplexities,  and  dangers  of  the 
day,  that  stood  awaiting  me  embodied  in  the  grace- 
ful form  of  "  my  official  wife,"  who  sat,  a  tantaliz- 
ing but  domestic  picture,  pouring  out  tea  at  the  foot 
of  a  table  covered  with  an  appetizing  breakfast. 

She  was  in  a  piquant,  coquettish  morning  wrapper, 
or  tea-gown,  or  demi-toilet,  or  whatever  women  call 
those  extraordinary  yet  fascinating  gowns  that  make 
them  more  graceful,  more  insinuating,  more  tortur- 
ing to  the  man  they  hold  at  a  distance  than  all  the 
glory  of  full-dress  regalia.  I  seated  myself  at  the 
table,  and  found  in  front  of  me  my  ticket  de  s(/our, 
permitting  a  three  weeks*  stay  in  the  capital. 

"You  never  kept  me  waiting  so  long  before,  dear 
Arthur,"  she  said,  sweetly.  "  I  have  so  much  to  do  ; 
so  much  depends — o-oh  !  '* 

I  had  played  my  part  of  doting  husband  for  the 
benefit  of  the  servant  and  sealed  her  lips,  she  not 
being  able  to  expostulate  violently  without  ruin  to 
teacups  and  saucers. 

For  a  moment  she  looked  haughty,  then  blush- 
ingly  turned  to  the  waiter  and  said:  ''We  have 
everything  that  is  required." 


102  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

The  man  withdrew  grinning.  He  thought  she 
wished  another  salute. 

She  cried  :  "  Arthur,  see  that  the  door  is  shut ! 
Ough  !  the  draughts." 

This  I  did,  taking  a  surreptitious  squint  to  be  sure 
that  our  waiter  was  not  at  the  key-hole. 

As  I  returned  to  the  table,  she  whispered  :  '*  What 
was  the  meaning  of  those  awful  outcries  in  your 
sleep  ?  You  would  have  had  every  one  in  the  hotel 
here  had  I  not  awakened  you." 

"  Madame,"  I  said,  savagely,  "  I  was  dreaming  we 
were  arrested  and  I  was  suffering  the  punishment  of 
the  knout — for  j^z/r  sake  !  "  I  put  such  an  insinuat- 
ing pathos  in  the  last  phrase  that  she  went  into  hys- 
terical laughter  and  made  me  more  angry  with  her 
than  ever. 

Recovering  from  this,  she  whispered  :  ''  Dreams 
go  by  contraries."  Then,  becoming  very  serious, 
she  said:  "We  must  consult  together  how  to  avoid 
such  an  awful  catastrophe.  Sit  down  near  me , 
while  we  breakfast  we  can  discuss  the  matter." 

As  I  did  so  I  remarked  to  her,  under  my  breath: 
"You  were  out  last  night — where?" 

"  That,"  she  replied,  "  for  your  own  sake,  I  will 
not  tell  you.  To  know  the  details  of  this  business 
upon  which  I  am  engaged  would  only  add  to  your 
embarrassment  were  I  discovered — only  increase 
your  punishment  were  we  arrested.  It  is  sufficient 
that  I  have  advanced  my  business  very  much,  and 
no  suspicion  rests  upon  me  in  the  office  of  the  hotel, 
where  they  suppose  I  have  been  on  a  visit  to  the 
Weletskys.  Won't  you  have  some  trout  ?  They 
are  very  delicious." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  IO3 

"  No,  thank  you/'  replied  I,  sulkily. 

Then  she  went  on  between  bites,  trouble  appar- 
ently rather  sharpening  her  appetite  :  "  A  thousand 
embarrassments  are  upon  us. — Some  coffee,  dar- 
ling?" 

"  No,"  I  said,  glumly,  to  the  last,  then  queried  to 
the  first :  ''New  ones?" 

''Yes,  these."  She  held  up  a  number  of  letters. 
"We  must  make  up  our  minds  exactly  how  to  act; 
then,  having  taken  our  line,  stick  to  it.  Am  I  to 
enter  Russian  society  or  not  ?  "  She  tossed  half  a 
dozen  invitations,  cards,  etc.,  in  front  of  me,  most  of 
them  bearing  distinguished  names.  Among  them 
was  an  invitation  to  the  Ignatief  ball,  which  was 
enclosed  with  a  card  of  the  Princess  Palitzin.  Appa- 
rently to  her  good  offices  we  owed  the  compliment. 

"  If  I  refuse  these  and  do  not  go  out  in  the  world 
it  may  be  thought,  not  unnaturally,  suspicious.  If  I 
accept  them,  we  bring  upon  us  all  the  dangers  of 
great  publicity.     Which  do  you  advise  ?  " 

*'  How  long  do  you  remain  here?"  asked  I. 

**  Until  I  have  finished  my  work." 

"Which  means?" 

"  At  the  most,  three  days,  though  I  have  advanced 
so  much  that  it  may  be  ended  this  afternoon." 

"And  at  the  end  of  that  time  you  will  be  ready 
to  leave  Russia — you  will  leave  Russia  as  soon  as  I 
find  a  way  to  get  out  of  it  ?  "  said  I,  impressively. 

"  Yes  ;  but  can  you  do  this  ?  The  way  into  the 
rat-trap  is  easy — but  to  get  oia  !  "  She  shrugged 
her  shoulders. 

"To  do  this  there  must  be  no  suspicion  on  us,"  I 
said,  seriously. 


104  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

"  I  must  write  to  my  wife  in  Paris,  otherwise  per- 
plexing telegrams  may  come." 

She  replied  :  "  You  must  do  that,  at  once." 

"  Under  cover  to  my  bankers  in  Paris  by  means 
of  the  American  Embassy,"  I  answered,  then  sud- 
denly cried : 

**  But  my  daughter  ?  She  will  be  here  in  three 
days." 

"  She  must  not  be  here  in  three  days." 

"  How  can  I  prevent  it  ?  " 

"  Telegraph  her.  You  can  safely  telegraph  Mar- 
guerite ;  you  have  no  ofificial  daughter  with  you  in 
St.  Petersburg,"  she  said,  playfully.  '^  Now,  as  to 
society.  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  refuse  to 
receive  Madame  Constantine  Weletsky  ;  equally  im- 
possible for  me  to  neglect  to  visit  her.  If  I  accept 
her  invitations,  I  must  accept  those  of  others.  A 
perfect  freedom  and  ease  of  movement  will  be  our 
best  protection  from  suspicion." 

"  Do  as  you  please,"  growled  I ;  *'  I  am  in  the  rat- 
trap."  Then  I  gave  her  all  the  information  possible 
about  my  daughter  Marguerite ;  the  very  delicate 
matters  of  the  division  of  the  estate  that  had  brought 
me  as  her  envoy  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  other  little 
points  that  would  aid  my  co-conspirator  in  playing 
the  ro/e  of  Mrs.  Lenox  ;  charging  her  to  beware  of 
questions  about  America,  to  parry  rather  than  an- 
swer them,  and  not  to  talk  too  much  about  her 
ancestors,  the  Vanderbilt-Astors,  nor  anything  she 
didn't  know  all  about.  "  You  women  always  ruin 
yourselves  by  too  much  _finesse,''  I  said,  oracularly. 

At  which  my  pupil  gave  me  a  sly  smile  and  mur- 
mured :  "Thank  you,  dear  Arthur,  for  teaching  me 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I05 

to  be  as  wise  as  you.  Now,  another  point.  Will  it 
not  be  curious  if  you  leave  St.  Petersburg  so  sud- 
denly— without  seeing  your  daughter,  without  set- 
tling her  affairs  ?  " 

*'  I  shall  see  my  lawyer  to-day,  get  Marguerite's 
legal  matters  in  hand,  and  finish  them  as  soon  as 
possible,"  answered  I,  and  rose  to  go  on  my  errands. 

In  a  few  minutes  official  Mrs.  Lenox  tripped 
down-stairs  with  me,  and  we  were  on  the  "  Nev- 
sky."  At  the  nearest  principal  square  Helene 
selected  one  of  several  closed  carriages,  conversing 
a  few  moments  in  Russian  with  the  driver. 

"  Let  me  order  all.  I  will  explain  as  we  go  along. 
I  know  the  city.  We  have  a  trusty  man  now  !  " 
Calmly  directing  the  driver  to  the  American  Lega- 
tion, my  fair  guardian  seated  herself  on  the  cushions. 
At  the  legation  I  sent  in  my  card,  and  v/as  ushered 
into  the  office  of  the  acting  '*  Charge  d'Affaires." 
The  minister  was  absent,  as  usual.  Leaving  cards 
for  that  dignitary,  I  received  a  letter  from  Paris  that 
gave  me  an  awful  pang,  though  I  thrust  it  into  my 
pocket  unopened.  I  informed  the  Secretary  of  Le- 
gation of  my  status,  and  showed  my  credentials. 

"  In  what  can  I  serve  you,  colonel  ?  "  was  his  po- 
lite remark. 

I  spoke  of  my  desire  to  send  letters  under  cover 
out  of  Russia  in  the  legation  bags. 

"  I  regret  you  have  asked  the  one  thing  I  cannot 
do  for  you,"  said  the  secretary.  "  Some  of  the 
smaller  legations  have  been  suspected  of  yielding 
to  high  bribes  to  convey  Nihilist  correspondence. 
The  '  doj/e7i '  of  the  diplomatic  corps,  on  our  joint 
pledge,  assured  Monsieur  de  Giers  that  no  private 


Io6  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


letters  should  be  sent  in  any  of  our  despatch  bags. 
On  that  express  agreement,  we  saved  our  legation 
privilege  of  using  our  sealed  bags.  I  can  receive 
and  keep  for  you  all  your  incoming  letters.  That  is 
not  our  responsibility." 

He  offered  every  other  civility,  giving  me  a  letter 
to  a  lawyer  of  standing,  which  I  requested.  I 
thanked  him  and  withdrew. 

"What  has  happened?"  asked  my  companion, 
looking  at  my  face  as  I  rejoined  her  in  the  carriage. 

I  told  Helene  of  my  trouble  about  the  letters. 

"  Leave  the  letters  to  me,"  she  said,  cheerfully  ; 
then  cried  to  our  driver  :  "  To  the  telegraph  office ! 
Quick!" 

From  there  I  wired  to  my  daughter,  announcing 
my  arrival.  I  gave  my  address  as  "  U.  S.  Legation," 
adding  :  "  Write  only  to  me  here.  Wait  where  you 
are.  I  will  come  and  visit  you  myself.  Letters  ex- 
plain." 

I  felt  that  I  had  closed  one  avenue  of  danger.  I 
knew  the  Weletskys  would  delicately  leave  all  writ- 
ing to  me,  as  my  daughter's  business  interests  were 
in  my  hands. 

"  Now,  madame,"  said  I,  "  I  wish  to  read  my — 
my  letter  from  Paris,"  this  with  a  gulp,  "  and  answer 
it,  if  I  can  safely.     I  will  also  write  to  my  daughter." 

"You  shall,  with  security,"  said  Helene,  confi- 
dently. 

She  gave  an  address  to  the  coachman  ;  he 
started,  and  nodded  significantly.  Through  the 
picturesque  streets,  crowded  with  every  costume  of 
Europe  and  Asia,  we  whirled.  Gentlemen  in  Eng- 
lish Piccadilly  "  form,"  ladies  "  en  Parisienne,''  dandy 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  I07 

Guardsmen,  wild  Circassians,  silver  inlaid  cimeters 
at  their  belts  ;  Persians,  peasants,  Jews,  Poles,  ser- 
vants, and  soldiers,  Cossacks  pricking  about  on  their 
hardy  ponies,  and  other  strange  figures  made  up  a 
queer  melange.  It  is  only  seen  elsewhere  in  the 
world  at  the  bridge  at  Constantinople,  or  in  the  old 
"  Mouski  "  at  Cairo. 

I  noticed  our  driver  took  very  circuitous  routes, 
driving  now  fast,  now  slow.  We  passed  the  great 
Kazan  church,  the  stupendous  golden-domed  "  St. 
Isaacs ;  "  many  palaces,  squares,  barracks,  granite- 
balustraded  canals,  monuments,  and  temples.  From 
time  to  time  our  Jehu  looked  around,  as  if  choosing 
a  way.  Finally  we  rolled  swiftly  into  a  side  street, 
certainly  two  miles  from  the  telegraph  office.  We 
stopped  then  before  a  small  shop,  with  a  couple  of 
show-windows.     It  bore  the  unpretentious  sign  : 


^S^e    ^run,      J'lodes    de     Paris. 


;; 


"  Return  in  two  hours,"  said  my  directress  to  the 
driver,  adding  a  few  directions.  "  Follow  me," 
whispered  my  lovely  guide.  She  covered  her  face 
with  a  heavy  veil,  gliding  up  the  steps  swiftly.  I 
descended.  A  glance  assured  me  no  one  was  in  the 
street,  near  enough  to  see.  My  driver  whipped  up 
and  disappeared  around  a  corner.  I  entered  the 
store. 

My  wife  was  saying  to  a  neat-looking  French- 
woman: ''  I  require  a  robe  for  the  Comtesse  Ignatiefs 


I08  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

ball ;  it  must  be  ready  in   three  days ;  can  you    do 

it?" 

*'  Before  that,  if  madame  chooses,"  answered  the 
woman,  respectfully.  Then  Helene  whispered  some- 
thing I  could  not  catch;  the  milliner  pointed  to  a 
side  door.  Helene  took  me  into  a  small  room,  com- 
fortably furnished.     I  was  a  little  puzzled. 

"  Here,"  said  my  official  wife,  '•  are  your  writing 
materials.  Now,  get  your  letters  ready  at  once, 
while  I  select  my  robe." 

"  But  you've  got  lots  in  your  trunks,"  suggested  I. 

"  But  require  another — a  woman's  caprice.  Don't 
ask  questions,  and  don't  go  to  the  door,"  cried  my 
enigma,  and  left  me  with  a  horrible  suspicion  in  my 
mind.     I  was  in  a  Nihilist  haunt. 

I  wrote  to  my  wife — my  dear  wife  in  Paris — in 
answer  to  her  kind  note  received  at  the  legation.  I 
— I  believe  I  cried  over  it.  I  know  my  answer  was 
misspelled,  ungrammatical,  but  to  the  point. 

I  directed  my  absent  loved  one  to  write  to  no  one 
but  me  on  the  impending  business,  and  to  cover 
all  her  letters  to  the  legation.  I  forbade  her  to  tele- 
graph, as  all  messages  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  gov- 
ernment. I  asked  her  to  send  her  letters  for  her 
daughter  to  me  personally,  so  I  could  follow  the 
business  of  the  estate.  I  described  my  kindly  re- 
ception by  the  Weletskys,  but  said  I  would  make 
a  full  preliminary  examination,  and,  with  the  help  of 
the  lawyer,  begin  the  legal  business.  I  stated  that 
my  return  to  Paris  would  be  soon.  Most  decidedly  I 
discouraged  any  visit  to  St.  Petersburg  by  her.  The 
climate  was  aw(u\—grtJ?J)e  reigned  supreme,  compli- 
cated with  Asiatic  cholera. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  IO9 

I  covered  the  epistle  to  ''  Drexel,  Harjes  &  Co., 
Paris." 

Then  I  wrote  Marguerite.  I  fully  informed  my 
daughter  of  the  local  situation,  directing  her  to 
send  all  her  letters  to  me  to  the  'Megation; " 
also  bidding  her  to  write  to  her  mother  through  me, 
so  as  to  save  one  set  of  letters.  I  promised  to  visit 
her  soon,  and  directed  her  not  to  come  to  St.  Peters- 
burg until  requested.  To  have  her  at  the  Welet- 
skys'  would  be  awkward  while  her  business  was 
under  daily  discussion.  To  stay  away  from  them 
would  violate  the  usual  Russian  family  hospitality  ; 
so  she  had  better  remain  till  I  could  join  her.  I 
cautioned  her  about  writing  any  one  but  me,  and 
promised,  later,  to  bring  her  dear  mother  myself  to 
visit  her  at  Rjasam,  as  I  felt  no  lady  should  go  alone 
from  Paris  to  St.  Petersburg. 

This  was  fairly  well  thought  out  for  a  man  who 
shivered  every  time  he  heard  the  door  open,  or  the 
working-girls  give  a  giggle  over  their  sewing  in  the 
next  room. 

A  moment  after  Helene  joined  me.  *'  My  robe  for 
Madame  Ignatief's  ball  will  be  a  marvel !  "  she  cried, 
then  in  a  lower  tone  she  asked  me  for  the  letters. 

I  gave  them  to  her. 

*'Your  hand  is  moist — you  are  nervous,  you  are 
fevered  !  "  she  said.  "  Now,  go  quietly  to  the  hotel, 
or,  better  still,  to  the  club,  and  forget  about  this 
place.  These  letters  will  be  delivered.  I — I  will 
be  with  you  later.  If  you  see  him,  tell  Cousin 
Sacha  to  call  not  earlier  than  five  o'clock.  I  must 
have  time  to  make  a  toilet  before  he  arrives." 

To  this  I  sulkily  assented.     I  got  to  the  door  and 


no  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

went  down  the  steps,  giving  wary  glances  up  and 
down  the  street,  but  the  neighborhood  was  a  quiet 
one. 

No  one  was  in  sight  save  a  boy  flying  a  kite.  Per- 
haps this  was  a  signal !  I  quickened  my  steps ;  I 
breathed  heavily ;  perspiration  came  out  all  over 
me,  though  it  was  a  biting  day. 

Ah  !  it  takes  time  to  become  a  nonchalant  crim- 
inal. 

As  I  strode  along,  I  meditated.  I  would  be  at 
least  three  days  in  St.  Petersburg.  I  could  not 
leave  before  that  time.  Surrounded  by  dangers, 
known  and  unknown,  I  must  school  my  nerves ;  I 
must  educate  myself  to  become  as  cool-blooded  as 
the  Nihilist  who  could  write  philosophy  while  hand- 
ling a  dynamite  bomb.  I  must  learn  to  chew  up 
cipher  despatches  with  my  tobacco  while  conversing 
with  the  chief  of  police.     I  must 

A  voice  broke  in  upon  my  meditation. 

"  Ah  !  my  friend.  Colonel  Lenox  !  " 

Merciful  powers !  It  was  the  chief  of  police  him- 
self. 

Baron  Friedrich  stood  before  me.  Fortunately 
my  long  steps  had  covered  a  mile  or  so  of  ground 
from  the  suspicious  dressmaking  parlors. 

I  was  in  a  crowded  street,  where  any  sight-seer 
might  easily  be.  Acting  up  to  my  plan,  I  said  po- 
litely: "Charmed  to  see  you,  Baron  Friedrich," 
then  looked  at  my  watch,  and  continued:  "You 
gave  me  the  best  breakfast  in  the  world  yesterday ; 
permit  me  to  tender  you  as  good  a  lunch  as  can  be 
got,  to-day." 

"  Bravo  !  "  he  cried.     "  I    can  show  you  the  best 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  Ill 

little  restaurant  in  St.  Petersburg.  You  might  have 
remained  here  a  month  and  never  found  it."  Then, 
chatting  on  indifferent  topics,  he  trotted  along  by 
my  side,  I  cunningly  imagining  that  my  apparent 
desire  for  the  company  of  the  head  of  the  Third 
Section  would  absolve  me  from  all  suspicion. 

A  few  minutes'  walk  took  us  to  the  entrance  of  a 
place  designated,  '■^  PicJioir,  Restaurant  Franqais.'' 

"I  admit,"  said  I,  looking  at  the  narrow  street, 
^'  that  alone  I  should  never  have  found  this." 

An  impatient  wave  of  Baron  Friedrich's  hand 
beckoned  me  in.  We  were  soon  seated  at  a  little 
dingy  table  in  a  dingy  private  room.  I  noted  with 
some  interest  that  the  pofent  head  of  the  Third 
Section  received  no  more  attention  here  than  ordi- 
nary customers. 

The  waiter  disappeared  with  our  order.  I  re- 
marked: ''  They  do  not  know  you  here." 

''  No,"  he  said,  with  a  grin.  "  But  you,  I  perceive, 
have  found  me  out,"  then  went  on :  "I  never 
eat  at  the  same  place  twice  in  succession.  Did 
little  Friedrich  have  a  regular  restaurant,"  here  he 
winked  at  me,  "  little  Friedrich  would  be  poisoned 
some  day." 

Having  had  no  breakfast,  I  had  been  making  a 
raid  on  the  omnipresent  French  bread.  At  his 
ominous  words,  I  dropped  this  like  a  shot. 

'■'  Ho  !  ho  !  "  he  chuckled.  "  Your  appetite  is 
gone,  my  poor  friend." 

I  stammered  I  would  brave  very  much  for  the 
pleasure  of  his  company. 

"  Ah  !  then  brave  this,''  he  answered,  and  fell  to 
on  the  lunch,  which  had  just  made  its  appearance. 


112  MY  OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

Encouraged  by  his  confidence,  I  followed  his  ex- 
ample, and  found  the  meal  excellent. 

During  a  pause  between  courses,  he  remarked : 
*'  My  friend  Lenox,  you  do  not  look  well." 

"  No  ;  I  did  not  sleep  much  last  night." 

''Ah!" 

"  I  was  at  the  Yacht  Club." 

"And  the  result?" 

I  pulled  out  a  handful  of  rouble  bills. 

"  You  were  fortunate  !  And  madame  permits  all- 
night  dissipations  ?  By  the  bye,  how  is  madame  ? 
Charming,  as  usual?  " 

"  No  ;  shopping,  as  usual,"  said  I. 

"  Ah !  you  are  witty  !  " 

"  But  truthful ;  she  wishes  a  new  robe  for  the 
Countess  Ignatief's  ball." 

*'  Oh,  ho  !  so  soon  in  the  swim  I  "  cried  Baron 
Friedrich,  a  longing  look  coming  into  his  eyes. 
"  Perhaps  I  will  be  there,  also." 

''Indeed?" 

"  Certainly  ;  if  the  czar  should  conclude  to  honor 
the  fete.''  A  restless,  uneasy,  almost  hunted,  look 
came  into  the  little  man's  fat  face. 

"  You  do  not  look  well  yourself,"  said  I. 

"  No  !  "  he  replied.  "  To  be  candid  with  you,  the 
anxieties  of  my  position  are  too  great.  I  am  like  a 
boy  keeping  flies  off  the  meat.  There  are  too  many 
flies.  Some  day,  perhaps,  I  shall  miss  one,  and 
then " 

"  The  meat  will  suffer,"  I  interrupted. 

"  And,  mein  Himmel,  the  boy  also  !  "  he  said,  with 
a  comical  shrug  of  the  shoulders  ;  then  went  on 
pointedly.     "You  had  an  accident  over   in  Wash- 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  II3 

ington  to  President  Garfield — some  few  years 
ago." 

*'  Yes,"  I  replied  ;  "  he  was  murdered." 

*'  H'sh !  don't  speak  so  brutally !  What  hap- 
pened to  the  chief  of  police  at  Washington  ?" 

"  Nothing  !  I  believe  he  retained  his  office,"  re- 
plied I. 

"Nothing!  Ah!  it  must  be  easy  to  be  chief  of 
police  for  you.  You  Americans  are  a  great  people. 
That  could  hardly  happen  here.  It  is  either  the 
criminal's  head,  or  your  own."  He  gave  a  little 
sigh,  and  then  said  briskly  :  "  But  I  must  be  going. 
I  have  many  things  on  my  shoulders.  I  have  not 
touched  a  bed  since  I  arrived." 

*'  Yes,"  I  replied.  "  I  believe  I  saw  some  of  your 
work  last  night." 

"  Indeed  ! — where  ?  "  He  was  interrogation  and 
suspicion  at  once.  "  What  do  you  know  of  my 
work  ?  " 

In  answer  I  related  the  incident  that  Boris  and  I 
had  seen  coming  from  the  Yacht  Club  in  the  early 
morning. 

"  Yes,"  he  cried,  ''  I  got  one ;  but  the  great 
one — if  I  could  only  put  my  hands  upon  her  !''  A 
longing  look  came  into  his  eyes,  that  seemed  to 
sparkle  through  his  blue  glasses.  "  It  would  be  half 
a  dozen  decorations  for  me,  and  the  confidence  of 
my  master  forever.  Ah  !  but  she  is  very  cunning, 
very  acute.  She  is  a  foeman  worthy  to  Baron 
Friedrich.  0-oh  !  I  am  afraid  I  shall  never  do  it." 
Here  he  passed  his  hands  through  his  hair  in  a 
comical  kind  of  despair ;  then  cried  to  me :  *'  I 
have  remained  too  long — au  revoir  !  " 


J        114  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

He  had  got  to  the  door,  when  he  suddenly  re- 
turned to  me  and  said :  **  You  noticed  no  very 
beautiful  woman  on  the  train  from  Berlin  to  Edyt- 
kuhnen?" 

"  Several,"  said  I. 

"  Ah  !  yes  ;  but  one  with  dark  hair,  brown  eyes,  a 
peculiar  fascination,  and  wondrous,  winning  man- 
ner ;  the  graces  of  a  child,  the  brain  of  a  diplomat  ?  " 

**  I  did  !  "  replied  I,  my  heart  in  my  mouth. 

"  Ah  !  you  know  her  ?     Who  is  she  ?  " 

'*  My  wife  !  "  cried  I,  with  a  courage  born  of  de- 
spair. 

'*  Your  wife  !  Oh,  yes  ;  ha,  ha  !  "  and  he  burst  into 
a  sort  of  laugh.  "■  You  are  3.  farceur,  you  play  with 
the  chief  of  police.  Americans  will  always  have  their 
little  jokes."  Then  he  winked  at  me  and  left  me. 
Heavens,  what  did  that  wink  portend  ?  I  felt  that 
my  situation  was  more  desperate  than  ever. 

The  woman  now  sporting  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Lenox  was  so  important  to  Baron  Friedrich  that  all 
the  sagacity  of  his  long  experience,  all  the  astuteness 
and  quickness  of  his  Tartar  mind  mixed  with  the 
philosophy  of  his  partly  German  nature,  would  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  her  capture,  because  he  felt 
that  upon  his  success  in  this  matter  depended  his 
own  safety  and  career. 

As  this  came  home  to  me,  I  sprang  up  from  the 
table,  paid  my  bill  hurriedly.  That  I  must  get 
out  of  Russia  rapidly  was  the  strong  point  in  my 
m.ind. 

To  do  this  with  some  show  of  reason,  it  was  nec- 
essary for  me  to  undertake  my  daughter's  affairs, 
upon  which  I  had  come  into  the  cursed  country,  at 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  II5 

once,  and  make  some  appearance  of  finishing  them 
before  I  bolted. 

I  departed  hurriedly  for  the  office  of  the  lawyer 
whose  address  had  been  given  me  at  the  American 
Legation. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

SOCIETY   FETES   THE   BRIDE. 

"  Here  he  is !  Just  from  the  horrid  lawyers,  I 
suppose,"  greeted  me  in  Helene's  voice  as  I  entered 
my  salon  at  the  De  I'Europe.  Her  tone  was  pleas- 
ant ;  her  eyes,  as  they  met  mine,  reassuring. 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  "  and  I  am  happy  to  say  things 
are  going  swimmingly." 

"  Let  me  present  you  to  Madame  Weletsky.  She 
has  been  waiting  half  an  hour,  and  telling  me  all  about 
our  dear  Marguerite.     Olga,  this  is  my  husband  ! " 

An  aristocratic  lady,  of  dignified  and  charming 
demeanor,  whose  hair,  now  whitened  by  time,  soft- 
ened her  beauty  and  added  additional  distinction 
to  her  manner,  stood  before  me  and  gave  me  a 
smiling  welcome  ;  first  by  a  cordial  grasp  of  the 
hand,  next  by  tendering  a  fair  cheek  to  my  salute. 

''  Constantine  would  have  come  with  me,  but  un- 
fortunately is  detained  at  a  meeting  of  the  Coun- 
cil," she  said.  "  However,  I  am  charged  as  his 
envoy  to  insist  upon  your  removal  to  our  house. 
Your  apartments  are  ready  for  you." 

Here  was  another  embarrassment.  Under  no  cir- 
cumstances would  I  permit  Helene  to  live  under  the 
roof  of  the  Welctskys. 


Il6  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

I  was  immediately  assisted  in  this  dilemma  by 
the  cause  of  it,  who  interjected :  "  I  have  already 
told  Olga"  (how  free  and  easy  she  had  got  with  my 
relatives'  names  !)  "  that  our  stay  in  St.  Petersburg 
will  be  a  very  short  one." 

*' A  short  one?"  interrupted  the  hospitable  Olga. 
"  I  am  sure  that  my  husband  will  not  permit  that." 
And  she  went  off  in  her  voluble  Russian  manner 
to  tell  us  what  a  disappointment  a  brief  stay  by  us 
in  St.  Petersburg  would  be  to  her  husband,  to  her, 
to  the  whole  family  ;  crying  out  that  we  would  not 
even  see  our  daughter. 

"  Still,  our  present  visit  must  be  short,  I  regret," 
said  I,  ^'  for  as  soon  as  I  have  arranged  the  prelim- 
inary details  of  Marguerite's  affairs  with  the  lawyer 
and  your  husband,  business  recalls  me  to  Paris  ;  but 
we  will  return  in  a  month." 
,"  How  long  will  you  remain  now?  " 

"  Perhaps  not  more  than  three  days.  Under 
these  circumstances " 

"  You  could  come  to  us  for /zc^,"  suggested  Olga, 
insinuatingly. 

"  What !  two  /o;i^  packings  in  two  s/w?'f  days ! 
Besides,  if  I  attend  the  Countess  Ignatief's  ball,  I 
have  so  much  to  do.  A  new  ball-dress,  and,  unfor- 
tunately, I  did  not  bring  a  maid  with  me,  as  I  knew 
we  should  have  to  run  back  to  Paris  so  very  soon." 

"  Pshaw  !  I  can  lend  you  one  of  my  w^omen,"  sug- 
gested my  hospitable  relative. 

Happily,  this  discussion  was  broken  in  upon  by 
the  arrival  of  the  Princesses  Palitzin. 

*' We  have  called,"  said  the  elder,  who  followed 
her  card  very  rapidly  into  our  apartment,  "  to^make 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  11/ 

sure  that  you  received  the  invitation  of  the  Igna- 
tiefs'  we  mailed  to  you  last  night  ;  and,  further- 
more, to  be  the  first  to  ask  you  to  come  in  our  com- 
pany." 

"  It  is  my  ofifice,"  cried  Madame  Weletsky,  ''  to 
introduce  my  American  relatives — my  pleasure  as 
well." 

Upon  this  the  ladies  had  a  friendly  fight  over 
my  ''  ofificial  wife,"  as  to  who  should  do  to  her 
the  honors  of  St.  Petersburg  ;  Mademoiselle  Dozia 
Palitzin  enforcing  her  sister's  persuasion  by  surrep- 
titious pettings,  embraces,  and  kisses  that  she  lav- 
ished upon  Helene,  with  whom  this  young  lady 
seemed  to  have  fallen  in  love. 

How  long  this  amiable  contest  would  have  con- 
tinued I  do  not  know,  but  at  this  juncture  in  strolled 
Sacha,  looking  more  handsome  and  more  wicked  than 
ever,  apparently,  this  afternoon,  having  put  some 
extra  orders  and  decorations  on  his  uniform  for  the 
conquest  of  Helene. 

*-At  last,  my  dear  Laura,"  he  cried,  giving  my  wife 
a  too  cousinly  kiss  ;  then  paused,  looking  around, 
and  biting  his  lip  at  the  sight  of  his  fiancee,  who 
had  suddenly  and  unguardedly  cried  out  : 

*'Why,  Sacha,  I  thought  you  told  me  you  were  to 
be  on  duty  all  day!" 

''  Yes,  but  I  dodged  duty  for  half  an  hour.  It 
was  necessary  for  me  to  welcome  my  relatives,  my 
dear  Dozia,"  he  said,  nonchalantly  ;  then,  after  a  few 
all-round  speeches,  led  the  young  lady  aside,  appar- 
ently to  make  his  peace  ;  for  as  they  passed  me  I 
heard  him  mutter  to  h\s fiancee:  ''Why,  she  is  a 
grandmother — a  grandmother,  my  little  Dozia.*' 


Il8  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

*' Yes,  but  such  a  lovely  grandmother,"  I  caught 
from  the  fair  young  Russian's  lips  in  whisper. 

During  this  coiitrctemps  the  cards  of  several  of 
the  Weletskys'  relatives  had  been  brought  up  to 
us,  as  well  as  some  of  the  Palitzins'  friends  we 
had  met  at  the  station.  The  room  was  soon 
quite  full  of  handsome  women  and  distinguished 
men,  who  had  called  to  present  their  respects 
to  Colonel  and  Madame  Lenox.  Among  these 
my  ''  ofificial  wife "  moved  with  a  gracious  ease 
that  made  her  a  favorite.  Our  afternoon  recep- 
tion became  almost  a  levee,  Hclene  devoting  her- 
self to  all,  charming  all,  even  the  American  Sec- 
retary of  Legation,  who,  having  heard  of  his  coun- 
trywoman's success  and  beauty,  had  called  to,  as  he 
expressed  it, ''  lay  the  American  eagle  at  her  feet  !  " 

Still  throughout  the  afternoon  it  seemed  as  if 
Sacha  was  most  often  of  all  the  gentlemen  at  my 
official  wife's  side,  and  to  him  her  head  was  most  fre- 
quently turned  to  receive  his  compliments  in  words 
or  glances,  for  this  young  guardsman  was  lavishing 
both  upon  her,  heedless  of  the  pathetic  glances  of 
his  yowwg  fiancee,  whom  he  had  left  neglected  in  a 
corner. 

A  great  deal  of  this  time  I  spent  at  Madame 
Weletsky's  side,  discussing  with  her  and  the  Princess 
Palitzin  the  disposal  of  our  short  time  in  the  capital. 
To  our  remaining  but  two  days  more  I  noticed 
that  Olga  Weletsky  now  no  longer  objected,  as  she 
watched  her  handsome  nephew  at  my  wife's  side. 
So  it  was  arrans^ed  that  we  should  dine  at  the 
Weletskys'  that  evening— a  strictly  family  dinner ; 
and  in  case  we  remained  until  the  evening  of  the 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


19 


Ignatief's  ball,  that  we  should  accompany  the  prin- 
cess to  that  fete. 

From  this  consultation  I  started  up  in  astonish- 
ment. 

There  was  a  handsome  piano  in  the  room  ;  Ma- 
demoiselle Dozia,  tired  of  seeing  the  dev^otion  of 
her  affianced  to  another,  had  left  her  retirement  and 
suggested  to  my  wife  that  she  sing  for  us.  ''  You 
can't  deny  the  gift,"  she  cried  ;  "  I  heard  you  trilling 
to  yourself  in  the  railroad  carriage.  I  would  like  a 
little  more  of  it !  " 

''You  wish  to  hear  my  voice?"  said  Helene, 
graciously.  "  Then  listen — though  I  am  a  little  out 
of  practice.  No,  thank  you  ;  I  sing  without  mu- 
sic, so  I  do  not  need  a  cavalier  to  turn  over  the 
leaves."  This  last  remark  was  to  Sacha,  who  had 
eagerly  proffered  his  service. 

The  next  minute,  with  the  same  touching  sweet- 
ness that  Nilsson  used  to  throw  into  the  old  negro 
melody,  "  The  Suwannee  River  "  came  floating  to 
our  ears.  We  all  cried  out  for  more,  and  this  much- 
endowed  young  conspirator  sang  "  Home,  Sweet 
Home,"  without  embellishment,  but  so  touchingly, 
so  pathetically,  with  so  much  of  that  divine  sweet- 
ness with  which  Patti  glorifies  and  ennobles  this 
melody  of  all  hearts,  that  after  the  last  note  had  left 
the  air  we  sat  silent,  hoping  the  sound  would  linger 
in  our  ears. 

.  The  song  left  tears  in  many  eyes  ;  in  those  of  my 
Circe,  who  had  conjured  up  the  charm,  and  in  the 
eyes  of  the  reprobate  Sacha  himself,  though  they 
did  not  wash  out  the  love-glances  that  he  threw  at 
the  songstress  ;  dew-drops  were  also  in  the  blue  eyes 


I20  MY  OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

of  Dozia  Palitzin,  as  she  gave  a  beseeching  glance  at 
this  man  whose  carelessness  of  her  love  was  making 
her  young  heart  sad  and  heavy. 

Our  friends  did  not  linger  long  after  this.  A 
chorus  of  enthusiastic  plaudits  for  these  American 
ballads  so  divinely  sung,  a  hubbub  of  invitations  and 
compliments,  and  they  were  going — even  Sacha. 
It  was  dangerously  near  the  dinner  hour,  and 
politeness  compelled  him  to  take  his  departure.  As 
he  passed  out,  Helene  was  bidding  her  last  lady 
caller  good-by.  I  caught  her  words :  "  You  must 
not  forget  me  in  Paris,  when  you  are  there  this 
winter — my  French  address."  As  she  said  this  she 
produced  an  elaborately  monogrammed  case  and 
handed  her  guest  a  card. 

The  lady  bowed  herself  out,  while  I  stood  aghast  at 
the  transaction.  The  instant  we  were  alone,  I  whis- 
pered to  Helene  :  *'  You  have  betrayed  yourself !  " 

"  How  ?  "  she  asked,  nonchalantly. 

"  How  ?  By  giving  your  card  to  this  Russian 
woman.  The  minute  she  reads  it  your  alias  will  be 
discovered." 

'*  Do  you  think  there  is  danger  in  this  ?  "  she 
laughed.  "  Inspect  my  card  case.  Behold  my  card  !  " 
She  held  them  up  to  me  ;  I  gazed  astounded.  The 
first  was  monogrammed  "  L.  M.  L.,"  my  true  wife's 
initials;  the  second  was  : 


^rs.  S4rthur  S.  S£e7iox^ 

No.  yj  Boulevard  Malesharbes. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  121 

a  duplicate  of  the  cartes  de  visite  my  real  spouse 
was  using  in  Paris  this  very  day. 

''  You  see,  I  had  them  printed  for  my  Russian  tour 
before  leaving.  I  believe  in  attending  to  details, 
eh,  Arthur?"  chirped  the  fair  conspirator.  I  said 
nothing  to  this,  being  dumfounded  at  her  fore- 
thought and  astuteness. 

A  moment  after,  she  cried  out  :  "  How  do  you 
like  my  American  tunes?  " 

"  You  sing  like  a  prima  donna^''  said  I,  in  rap- 
ture ;  "  but  how  did  you  know  the  songs  of  my 
native  land?" 

**  I  learned  them  for  the  role  I  am  playing,  that 
of  Mrs.  Arthur  Bainbridge  Lenox,  la  belle  Ameri- 
caine,''  remarked  this  extraordinary  creature.  ''  Oh! 
I  know  half  a  dozen  other  negro  melodies  and  the 
*  Star  Spangled  Banner.'     Like  to  hear  it  ?  " 

She  threw  herself  at  the  piano  and  dashed  off 
this  patriotic  melody,  in  a  way  which  made  me 
groan  as  I  thought  how  much  I  would  again  like 
to  be  under  its  protecting  folds  and  far  away  from 
the  double  eagle  of  Russia's  imperial  banner. 

"  Now  I  must  talk  to  you,"  said  I,  ""  upon  our 
private  business." 

''  Well,  what  first  ?  " 

"  First  Sacha " 

^''  Not  yet,"  she  interrupted,  looking  at  her  watch. 
"  I  have  only  time  to  dress  for  Olga  Weletsky's 
dinner-party."  And  she  ran  to  her  room,  but  stop- 
ped at  the  door,  turned  her  head,  and  cried  :  "  Rest 
easy !  Everything  has  gone  very  well  with  me 
to-day.  Now  slip  into  your  dress  coat,  Arthur, 
like  a  dear,  nice  husband  !  " 


122  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

''  A  loving  husband  !  "  suggested  I,  at  which  she 
slammed  her  door ;  and  I,  thinking  it  well  to  take 
her  advice,  departed  to  my  own  room  to  array  my- 
self in  my  war  clothes  and  adorn  myself  with  my 
war  paint. 

An  hour  after  this,  we  stood  together  on  the 
English  Quay.  At  our  backs  the  beautiful  Neva  ; 
in  front  of  us  the  hospitable  portals  of  the  Weletsky 
mansion.  As  we  entered  these  a  blush  of  shame 
came  upon  my  cheek — I  was  permitting  the  woman 
by  my  side  to  receive  the  honors  due  to  my  true 
wife,  to  accept  the  place  of  Marguerite's  mother  in 
the  attentions  and  affections  of  her  relatives. 

But  I  was  getting  hardened  and  desperate  now, 
and  I  gave  a  kind  of  reckless  chuckle  as  I  heard  the 
lackey  announce  '*  Colonel  and  Madame  Lenox," 
and  we  were  shown  into  the  state  drawing-room. 

Here  we  were  met  by  the  whole  family,  Constan- 
tine,  Olga,  Sacha,  and  Boris.  These,  with  the  two 
sons  of  Cdnstantine,  one  a  court  page,  the  other  an 
imperial  cadet,  and  a  sweet  little  girl  aged  nine, 
made  up  the  family  party. 

This  pretty  fairy  child,  Sophie  by  name,  was 
attended  by  a  governess,  a  handsome  young  French- 
woman, who  had  a  trim,  lithe  figure,  and  wore  a 
rather  de'collet^e  dress,  and  was  introduced  as  Made- 
moiselle Eugenie  de  Launay  by  our  hostess. 

Chatting  with  our  host,  I  noticed  that  in  some 
occult  manner  Helene  very  shortly  made  herself 
mistress  of  the  affections  of  nearly  all  in  the  room, 
especially  of  the  little  ones,  the  court  page  becoming 
her  page  for  the  evening,  and  the  imperial  cadet 
attempted  his  best  military  manner  upon  her  ;  while 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 23 

little  Sophie  nestled  in  her  lap  and  called  her,  much 
to  her  chagrin,  *' grandmamma." 

*'  She  is  not  your  grandmamma,"  said  Olga,  laugh- 
ing. 

"  She  is  the  grandmamma  of  my  little  cousin, 
and  she  must  be  my  grandmamma,"  cried  the  child ; 
*'  my  fairy  grandmamma  !      That's  what  Sacha  calls 

her !     Sacha "     This  was  suddenly  stopped   by 

my  wife's  prompt  kisses,  in  which  it  seemed  to  me 
she  tried  to  hide  some  bright  blushes  and  a  slight 
confusion. 

At  this  revelation  of  candid  childhood,  a  little 
hush  of  sensation  came  upon  the  assemblage,  broken 
only  by  Sacha's  laugh  and  a  sudden  menacing  flash 
from  the  eyes  of  the  young  Frenchwoman  that  I 
caught  directed  upon  my  spouse  pro  tern. 

*'  Hush,  my  child,"  said  Madame  Weletsky  ;  "your 
little  tongue  is  too  long  for  your  years." 

*'  Why,  it's  true  !  "  cried  Miss  Sophie  ;  *'  she  does 
look  like  a  fairy!"  And  she  threw  two  admiring 
brown  eyes  upon  Helene,  who,  in  some  light,  flowing 
gown,  some  creation  of  the  genius  of  Worth  or 
Pingat,  looked  ail  the  little  girl  called  her — even 
more. 

'*  Be  careful,  or  you  will  destroy  the  fairy  gar- 
ments," laughed  Olga,  for  the  child  was  nestling  in 
Helene's  lap,  regardless  of  the  exquisite  toilet  she 
was  crushing.     "  I  think  you  had  better  retire." 

"  Till  after  dinner,  mamma  ?  May  I  not  come  in  to 
the  dessert  ?  "  pleaded  the  child,  as  Mademoiselle  de 
Launay  led  her  away.  After  passing  through  the 
door  into  the  hall,  I  could  see  the  young  French- 
woman turn.      Sacha  was  bending  over  Helene,  a 


124  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

Tartar  love-glance  in  his  eye.  As  she  caught  the 
picture,  the  governess's  heart  began  to  throb,  and  I 
saw  a  flash  of  something  I  could  not  define  in  her 
face  ;  it  seemed  a  mixture  of  agony  and  desperation. 

"Ah— ha!"  thought  I;  ''Mr.  Sacha  is  in  the 
wholesale  trade  !  "  I  gave  a  savage  chuckle  at  this,  as 
it  suddenly  occurred  to  me  that  my  military  friend 
was  raiding  my  own  ribbon  counter,  and  attacking 
my  fairest  and  most  attractive  line  of  goods. 

Then  the  conversation  became  general. 

I  wandered  about  the  old  apartment,  accompanied 
by  Boris,  who  described  to  me  the  pictures  that 
looked  upon  us  from  the  walls  of  the  room.  This 
was  a  warrior  who  had  fought  in  the  old  Tartar 
wars;  here  was  a  representative  of  the  family  who 
had  enjoyed  the  dangerous  honor  of  being  Chamber- 
lain to  the  great  Catherine  the  Second. 

As  we  moved  about  we  came  to  the  front  win- 
dows of  the  apartment,  which  looked  out  upon  the 
swiftly  flowing  river,  covered  with  the  commerce 
of  all  nations,  enlivened  by  moving  steam-launches, 
row-boats,  and  barges,  that  were  speeding  about  in 
the  moonlight. 

"  This  will  all  cease  soon  ;  it  is  already  late  in  the 
season,"  said  Boris,  with  a  sailor's  eye.  "  Winter 
will  soon  be  upon  us;  the  Neva  will  become  quiet, 
and  on  its  ice  will  move  sleighs  instead  of  boats." 

Then,  looking  across  the  silver  tide  flowing  before 
us,  I  caught  sight  of  some  great  granite  buildings 
on  the  opposite  bank.  They  gave  me  a  start ;  I  had 
read  my  guide-book,  and  knew  I  was  gazing  on  that 
awful  prison  where  so  many  lives  have  been  groaned 
away  in  its  damp  dungeons  under  the  river. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  12  5 

**  The  fortress  of  Peter  and  Paul,"  remarked  Boris, 
following  my  glance. 

"  Ah  !  the  political  prison  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  and  at  his  words  a  soft  breath  was 
on  my  cheek,  a  low  sigh  was  at  my  ear. 

It  was  Helene,  who  said  :  "  They  are  waiting  for 
you  to  escort  Madame  Weletskyto  the  dining-room, 
I  believe,  Arthur." 

"  Ah  !  and  you  are  the  prize  to  the  head  of  the 
house  ;  but  I  sit  on  the  other  side  of  you,"  whis- 
pered Sacha,  coming  up  at  this  moment  to  the 
lady. 

As  we  marched  along  the  hallway  to  the  great 
dining-room,  even  Olga  Weletsky's  bright  face  and 
cheerful  manner  could  hardly  arouse  me  to  my 
usually  buoyant  spirits.  The  sight  of  that  great 
fort  in  whose  underground  dungeons  so  many  polit- 
ical prisoners  have  died,  where  the  daughter  of  the 
fair  Elizabeth  is  said  to  have  held  up  her  manacled 
hands  in  despair,  while  the  flood  from  the  rising 
river  drowned  her  ;  the  place  of  present  incarcera- 
tion for  those  who  offend  Russia's  czar — the  place 
where  I  might  spend  the  balance  of  my  life — had 
proved  a  sudden  damper  to  my  wit  and  a  crusher  to 
my  spirits.  After  a  little  the  brilliantly  lighted  din- 
ing-room, and  handsome  table  covered  with  flowers, 
for  which  the  Russians  rob  what  they  call  their 
winter  gardens,  or  conservatories,  with  reckless 
prodigality,  began  to  give  me  pleasanter  thoughts. 
We  had  already,  after  the  usual  Muscovite  custom, 
done  good  work  on  the  sactiska  of  salt  fish,  caviare, 
and  other  dishes  that  are  expected  to  make  the 
appetite  abnormal,   and    by  the   time  we    had  run 


126  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

through  a  course  or  two  of  the  main  repast,  the 
wine  had  been  going  around  very  freely,  and  under 
it  I  had  entirely  recovered  my  spirits. 

Constantine  at  the  head  of  the  table  was  hos- 
pitality itself,  and  Sacha,  seated  on  the  other  side 
of  Helene,  seemed  in  an  unusually  happy  mood  ; 
the  conversation  soon  became  light,  breezy,  and  en- 
joyable, and  toward  the  end  of  the  meal  I  had  set 
the  table  in  a  roar  by  several  anecdotes  of  my  army 
life  on  the  plains,  told  in  my  best  manner.  These  I 
followed  by  my  piece  de  resistance,  my  celebrated 
story  of  how  Corporal  Flaherty  was  captured  by 
five  Sioux  on  the  warpath.  These  savages,  together 
with  their  prisoner,  had  gone  upon  a  fearful  spree 
by  means  of  the  whisky  which  the  gallant  corporal 
always  carried  in  his  canteen  in  lieu  of  water ;  and 
the  gallant  corporal  had  made  his  appearance  at 
dress-parade  next  morning,  still  drunk,  but  with  five 
scalps  at  his  belt,  of  which  he  had  deprived  his  red- 
skin companions  during  the  festivities  of  the  pre- 
ceding night.  "  I  scalped  'em  first  and  waked  'em 
afterward,"  he  announced  to  the  commanding  officer. 

This  story,  told  in  my  inimitable  style,  produced 
shrieks  of  laughter  ;  for  my  manner  when  I  wish  to 
make  a  point  is  extremely  humorous  ;  in  fact,  the 
Prince  of  Wales  once  said  to  me — but  I  digress. 

Helene  led  the  mirth,  so  hilariously  I  thought 
she  would  be  overcome. 

"  Why,"  remarked  Sacha,  recovering  himself, 
*'  his  wife  laughs  at  his  best  story,  and  she  must 
have  heard  it  a  hundred  times." 

*'  A  thousand,  my  dear  cousin,"  murmured  Helene, 
with  a  shrug  of  her  shoulders. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  12/ 

"Yes,"  said  Madame  Weletsky,  "  Marguerite  has 
told  me  that  story,  and  said  that  you  ahvays  looked 
melancholy  when  papa  began  it." 

"Ah!  that  is  in  private,"  said  Helene,  with  a 
moue ;  "in  company  I  am  always  polite  to  my 
husband's  stories.  Eh,  Arthur?"  and  she  gave  me 
a  roguish  smile,  which  set  me  chuckling  to  myself. 

Upon  this  Madame  Weletsky  gave  the  signal, 
and  the  ladies  left  the  dining-room,  while  we  desert- 
ed men  chatted  together  over  our  wine  and  cigars. 
Soon  after,  Boris,  evidently  divining  that  Constan- 
tine  and  I  had  private  matters  to  talk  about,  and 
Sacha  undoubtedly  with  a  desire  to  be  near  my 
"  official  wife,"  at  which  I  covertly  gnashed  my 
teeth,  rose  from  the  table  and  strolled  after  the 
ladies. 

The  head  of  the  Weletskys  and  I  tcte-d-tete,  very 
shortly  fell  to  discussing  the  business  that  had 
brought  me  to  Russia — that  is,  the  settlement  of 
the  property  that  her  husband  had  willed  my 
daughter.  A  very  few  moments  showed  me  there 
was  no  contest,  that  the  Weletsky's  wished  Mar- 
guerite to  have  everything  the  will  gave  her — even 
more;  that  all  I  had  been  called  for  was  as  a  matter 
of  form  to  act  as  guardian  for  my  daughter's  inter- 
ests, so  that  no  suspicion  could  come  upon  any 
arrangement  that  was  made  by  her  kind  Russian 
relatives  for  Marguerite's  future  wealth,  posses- 
sions, and  status  in  society. 

I  told  him  that  as  soon  as  the  preliminaries  were 
all  settled  I  was  called  back  to  Paris,  but  would 
return  somewhat  later  in  the  season  for  the  final 
signing  of  the  papers.     To  this,  Constantine,  rather 


128  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

to  my  astonishment,  made  no  objections ;  merely- 
remarking  that  we  would  always  be  welcome  to  St. 
Petersburg.  "  You  know  that,  my  dear  Lenox,"  he 
said,  "  both  for  Marguerite's  sake  and  for  your  own." 

Then  he  continued:  "  You  will  not  think  it  imper- 
tinent if  I,  a  resident  of  this  capital,  give  to  you,  an 
American,  who  I  am  told,  as  a  nation,  are  very  free 
with  their  tongues,  the  advice  to  be  guarded  in  all 
you  say  here.  The  police  are  very  vigilant  at 
present,  especially  against  any  one  who  is  supposed 
to  be  politically  opposed  to  the  government." 

"Why,"  said  I,  innocently,  *' is  there  anything 
new  in  the  papers  ?  " 

"  My  dear  colonel,"  remarked  my  host,  with  a 
curious  smile,  ''  the  papers  never  know  anything 
here  ;  the  secret  police  guard  all."  He  lowered  his 
voice  and  added :  ''  Why,  even  my  servants  have 
doubtless  some  spies  among  them." 

"  What  are  they  looking  for?  "  queried  I. 

"Nihilists,"  he  whispered;  "always  the  same. 
It  is  the  sword  hanging  over  our  heads."  He  gave 
a  sigh  and  rose  from  the  table. 

As  he  did  so  the  strains  of  the  "  Star  Spangled 
Banner  "  came  to  us  from  the  drawing-room,  where 
Helene  was  seated  at  the  piano  and  again  singing 
that  tune,  which  brought  the  misery  of  helpless 
despair  to  my  heart. 

Stepping  hurriedly  in  ahead  of  Constantine,  I 
cried:  "Don't  sing  that  song!  You  know  how  it 
agitates  me  !  " 

At  which  Sacha,  who  was  bending  over  the  lady's 
shoulder,  remarked,  rather  maliciously:  "His  na- 
tional hymn  agitates  the  American  soldier.     He  is 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 29 

anxious  to  go  on  the  warpath  once  more  against 
his  old  enemies  of  the  plains,  the  Indians." 

I  looked  at  him  as  if  I  would  like  to  include  him 
among  the  Indians,  for  his  manner  all  through  this 
evening  had  been  growing  more  cmpresse^  more 
attentive,  more  lover-like  every  mom.ent  to  the  lady 
who  answered  to  the  name  of  Madame  Lenox. 

The  actions  of  the  young  guardsman  had  also 
apparently  been  noticed  by  Mademoiselle  de  Lau- 
nay,  the  governess.  This  young  lady  had  returned 
to  the  drawing-room  with  her  charge,  the  pretty 
Sophie,  and  her  glances  indicated  that  for  the  same 
reason  I  hated  Sacha,  she  was  furious  at  Helene. 

Even  Olga  and  her  husband  looked  annoyed,  for 
this  reckless  young  libertine's  freaks  were  too 
pointed  to  escape  observation. 

At  this  moment  a  brilliant  plan  for  revenge  came 
into  my  head  ;  one  of  these  bright  little  thoughts 
that  so  often  come  into  my  mind  to  make  me  a 
joy  to  my  friends  and  a  terror  to  my  enemies.  Our 
party  being  a  family  one,  permitted  me  a  free- 
dom that  in  a  more  formal  assembly  would  not 
have  been  mine. 

1  strolled  up  to  my  ofticial  wife,  and  became  the 
devoted,  uxorious  husband.  I  attended  her  footsteps 
wherever  she  went,  and  several  times,  as  occasion 
permitted,  tendered  my  wife  the  chaste  salute  of  a 
doting  Benedict,  which  from  the  very  circumstances 
of  the  case  she  could  neither  refuse  to  accept  nor 
omit  to  return.  \Vith  diabolical  ingenuity,  I  con- 
trived that  Sacha  should  see  and  writhe  under  the 
sight  of  these  embraces,  though  I  noted  with  some 
concern,  astonishment,  and  wounded  esprit  that 
9 


I30  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Helene  writhed  under  them  also.  But  the  party  had 
become  a  very  merry  one  by  this  time,  and  most  of 
them  laughed  at  the  fervid  nature  of  my  attentions 
to  my  wife. 

'*  Ah  !  "  said  Constantine,  **  you  Americans  are 
a  peculiar  people.  You  are  proud  of  your  affections 
and  like  to  display  them." 

"  Yes,"  cried  Sacha,  savagely ;  "  they  persecute 
their  wives  with  love." 

But  the  merry  little  dinner-party  came  to  an  end, 
as  all  things  of  this  world  do. 

Olga  and  Helene  passed  into  the  hall  together, 
the  Russian  claiming  her  for  a  round  of  afternoon 
calls,  receptions,  etc.,  the  next  day  ;  my  enigma 
promising  the  daylight  hours  to  her  hostess,  but 
saying  she  had  given  the  evening  to  the  Palitzins. 

As  we  were  going  out  I  overheard  Madame  Wel- 
etsky  remark  to  Helene  :  '*  Your  husband  is  still  the 
lover." 

*'  Yes,"  replied  my  official  wife  with  a  sneer  ;  "  he 
always  persecutes  me  like  that  after  he  has  enjoyed 
the  champagne." 

So  coming  down  the  steps  of  the  hospitable  man- 
sion very  glum  and  very  furious,  I  placed  my  wife 
in  our  carriage. 

I  had  scarcely  taken  my  seat  beside  her  when 
Sacha  ran  down  the  steps  after  us. 

"  Just  to  bid  you  a  last  adieu,  my  fair  cousin,"  he 
ejaculated,  and  shaking  her  hand,  an  unusual  salute 
for  him,  I  noted  with  rage  he  slipped  a  little  di7/et  doux 
into  the  fair  fingers  stretched  eagerly  out  to  him. 

As  we  drove  away,  I  said  sternly :  '*  Madame, 
that  note  immediately  !  " 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  I3I 

"  What  note  ?  " 

**  The  note  that  miserable  r^/// handed  to  you." 

''And  you  dare  demand  a  letter  addressed  tome? 
By  what  right  ?  "  she  muttered. 

*'  By  the  right  of  an  injured  husband,"  cried  I. 
"  The  right  you  gave  me  when  you  became  '  my 
official  wife.'  While  you  bear  my  name,  I  shall 
protect  its  honor,"  said  I,  in  an  awful  voice — "  the 
honor  of  an  official  husband  !  " 

My  terrific  manner  conquered  her. 

"  Take  it,  my  protector !  "  she  murmured,  and 
handed  me  the  billet  doiix,  meek  as  a  lamb. 

A  moment  after  she  fell  back,  shrieking  with  mer- 
riment, upon  the  cushions  of  the  carriage. 


CHAPTER  X. 

NAUGHTY    SACHA. 

Her  submission  touched  me.  Putting  the  note  of 
the  reprobate  Sacha  away  in  my  dress-coat  pocket, 
I  turned  to  my  companion,  who,  recovering  from  her 
laughter,  became  cosey,  confiding,  and  apparently 
dependent.  Her  state  of  mind  appeared  to  be  im- 
pressionable. So  I  gave  her  a  description  of  several 
of  this  young  guardsman's  wickednesses,  extrava- 
gances, and  infidelities,  with  perhaps  some  little 
embellishments  of  my  own  to  make  his  enormi- 
ties more  patent  to  the  lady  at  my  side.  ''  Besides, 
Helene,"  I  remarked,  ''  this  flirtation  is  an  exceed- 
ingly dangerous  one." 

"  Not  to  me  !  "  said  the  lady,  so  nonchalantly  that 
I  was  enraptured. 


132  MY   OFFICIAL  V/IFE. 

**  For  us  both,"  I  went  on.  "  Did  you  notice 
Mademoiselle  de  Launay  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  governess,"  she  replied,  carelessly.  "  I 
hardly  looked  at  her." 

*'  But  you  should  have.  Sacha's  wiles  have  evi- 
dently captured  Mademoiselle  Eugenie.  She  is  en- 
raged at  his  open  desertion  of  her.  She  is  desper- 
ately jealous  of  you.  Jealousy  in  women  produces 
sometimes  the  most  astonishing  results." 

''What  does  it  do  in  men  ?"  returned  Helene, 
pointedly. 

Disregarding  this  remark,  which  seemed  uncalled 
for,  I  went  on  :  ''  Our  position  is  such  that  we  can 
afford  no  enemies.  The  slightest  suspicion  upon 
us — the  police  will  discover  the  false  status  under 
which  we  are  living.  Spies  are  everywhere.  Actu- 
ated by  jealousy,  there  is  no  telling  what  lies  this 
Frenchwoman  will  fabricate  about  you.  A  mali- 
cious lie  would  injure  you  now  as  much  as  the  truth, 
and  in  this  regard  women  are  perfectly  reckless. 
Shall  I  tell  you  a  story  ?  " 

She  cuddled  up  to  me  and  said  anything  from  my 
lips  was  precious  to  her. 

She  evidently  repented  of  her  cruelty  to  me.  I 
was  in  a  happy  mood  as  I  gave  her  my  little  anec- 
dote. 

"  It  was  in  Cairo,"  I  began,  "  where  I  first  met 
O'Roony  Bey,  the  Irish  Mohammedan.  ''  This  gal- 
lant soldier  had  been  on  a  steady  spree  for  a  year. 
There  had  been  the  dickens  to  pay  in  his  harem. 
One  of  his  odalisques,  probably  not  having  the 
handkerchief  thrown  to  her  sufficiently  often,  in  a 
spasm  of  this  horrid  emotion,  jealousy,  had  so  lied 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 33 

about  the  rest  of  his  wives,  that,  overcome  by  rage 
and  the  whiskey  with  which  he  tried  to  drown  it, 
he  had  bow-stringed  half  of  his  harem.  He  was 
the  saddest  man  I  ever  saw,  as  he  sobbed  to  me,  '  I 
have  lost  thirty  wives  within  the  year — a7id  no  epi- 
demic I  '  At  last  the  awful  truth  came  out.  I  was 
in  his  palace  when  they  took  the  lying  jade  out,  tied 
up  in  a  sack,  and  dropped  her  into  the  Nile." 

"  What  extraordinary  stories  you  do  tell.  Arthur, 
I  am  afraid  you're  a  naughty  boy!"  whispered 
Helene  to  me,  with  open  eyes. 

"I  am!"  I  answered  confidently,  for  I  have  no- 
ticed most  women  do  not  prefer  saints  as  lovers. 

*'  However,  I  shall  remember  your  warning  in 
regard  to  Mademoiselle  de  Launay,  my  own  !  "  she 
said,  as  she  made  herself  very  sweet  and  cooing  to 
me,  at  times  even  putting  her  soft  arm  about  my 
neck  and  playing  with  the  lapel  of  my  dress-coat 
in  a  way  that  set  the  gallant  heart  under  it  beating 
rapturously. 

I  might  have  been  surprised  at  her  sudden  change 
in  manner  had  I  not  been  accustomed  to  the  pecul- 
iar freaks  and  emotions  of  womanhood,  having 
made  the  fair  sex  my  study — perhaps,  I  may  say, 
my  plaything. 

Thus  we  reached  the  hotel,  where  a  new  surprise 
awaited  me.  In  our  parlor,  at  the  De  I'Europe, 
Helene  very  sweetly  suggested  :  "  Let  me  help  you 
off  with  your  overcoat,  my  pet." 

This  she  did  in  a  playful,  caressing  way  on  which 
1  did  not  place  much  thought ;  for  she  was  always 
a  loving  wife  to  me — before  servants,  and  there  was 
a  waiter  in  the  room  ready  to  receive  her  orders  for 


134  MY  OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

a  little  tea  a  la  Russe,  a  beverage  to  which  she  was 
much  addicted,  though  I  liked  my  night-cap  a  little 
stronger. 

Receiving  his  orders,  the  menial  retired. 

*'  Now,  Arthur,"  she  cried,  "  hurry  into  your 
smoking-jacket  while  I  make  myself  comfortable  ; 
in  ten  minutes  we  will  meet  here.  Over  our  tea 
I  have  some  good  news  for  you — something  that 
will  be  soothing  to  your  nervous  system  !  " 

With  this  she  disappeared  into  her  dressing-room, 
while  I,  in  gleeful  mood,  happy  at  her  glances,  de- 
lighted at  her  flatteries,  strolled  into  my  chamber 
on  the  other  side  of  the  salon  ;  from  which,  in  a  few 
minutes,  I  sallied  out,  stepping  into  our  parlor  in  a 
gorgeous  smoking-gown  and  Egyptian  fez. 

A  second  after  she  entered,  in  the  sweet  simplic- 
ity of  a  tea-gown.  It  was  a  soft  white  robe  that, 
clinging  to  her  figure,  would  have  made  her  statu- 
esque had  it  not  been  modified  by  lace  adinfinitiim, 
that  gave  etherealness  to  the  statue,  and  made  it 
both  coquettish  and  dainty — and  to  me  madden- 
ing. The  laces  permitted  glimpses  of  fairy  arms  and 
graceful  neck  ;  the  embroidered  petticoat  allowed 
flashes  of  enchanting  ankles  and  tiny  feet  in  silken 
hose  and  little  slippers.  The  sight  of  her  drove 
away  from  my  mind  even  the  haunting  fears  of  the 
last  twenty-four  hours,  though  her  opening  words 
called  them  back  to  me  in  vivid  force. 

As  she  sat  down  and  poured  out  the  tea,  she 
whispered  significantly :  ''  I  have  completed  my 
business  to-day — all  of  itT 

I  answered  in  excited  joy :  ''  You  have  made 
commun " 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  1 35 

"  H'sh  !  *'  she  said  quickly.  "  As  few  words  as 
possible  on  that  subject." 

"Then  you  are  ready  to  leave  Russia?"  I  asked 
eagerly,  a  wonderful  sense  of  relief  coming  over  me. 

"  Yes  ;  as  soon  as  you  can  get  our  passport." 

"  Very  well, "  said  I,  my  pulse  beating  more 
freely  with  the  words.  "  To-morrow  I  can  settle  suf- 
ficient of  Marguerite's  business  with  the  lawyers  to 
make  it  reasonable  for  me  to  go  back  to  Paris.  To- 
morrow morning  I  will  return  our  card  de  sejoiir  to 
the  authorities  and  obtain  our  passport  to  leave 
Russia  ;  and  the  day  after  we  will  depart  from  this 
rat-trap."  Then,  a  sudden  joy  coming  to  me,  I 
took  my  official  wife  in  my  arms,  and  would  have 
showered  kisses  upon  her  pretty  lips,  when  she  sud- 
denly stopped,  astonished,  and  horrified  me  with 
these  words :  "  No  more  of  that,  my  gallant 
colonel !  " 

"  No  more — of — what  ?  "  ejaculated  I,  scarce  be- 
lieving my  ears,  though  my  other  senses  should  have 
assured  me,  for  she  had  torn  herself  from  my  arms, 
and  stood  confronting  me  in  a  cold  but  haughty 
anger. 

"  No  more  kisses  IN  PRIVATE,"  she  returned,  a 
curious  sneer  upon  her  lips,  which  were  pale,  though 
her  cheeks  had  each  a  flaming  red  spot.  "  It  is  too 
late  for  them  now  !  " 

"  Too  late  !  "  I  muttered.    "  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  too  late  !  "  she  repeated.  "  Last  evening 
I  was  at  your  mercy;  I  had  not  communicated  the 
cipher  and  mode  of  transmission  of  letters  to  our 
order  ;  for  our  cause  I  would  have  sacrificed — even 
myself,"  she  sighed.      ''  Now  " — here  her  voice  be- 


136  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

came  haughty,  bold,  and  triumphant — "now  the 
communication  is  completed,  my  task  is  done,  and 
rather  than  take  one  more  unnecessary  kiss  from 
your  lips  I'll " 

''  Do  what?"  I  jeered,  for  her  taunts  and  beauty 
had  made  me  desperate,  and  I  had  seized  upon  her 
once  more.     "Do  what?" 

"  This  ! "  A  cold  circle  of  steel  was  on  my  fore- 
head, her  little  bulldog  revolver  was  against  my 
brow,  her  taper  finger  was  upon  its  trigger.  Sur- 
prise made  me  start  back. 

"Now,"  she  said,  "  you  know  my  sentiments  ;  let 
us  talk  sensibly." 

I  could  easily  have  wrested  the  weapon  from 
her,  but  in  the  struggle  it  would  probably  have  been 
discharged,  and  in  this  crowded  hotel  have  called 
attention  to  our  rooms — perhaps  have  caused  police 
investigation,  for  carrying  weapons  without  per- 
mit is  crime  in  Russian  law.  Therefore  I  listened 
to  her,  wracking  my  brain  why  this  strange  being, 
who  had  been  so  kind  to  me  the  hour  before,  was 
now  so  cruel. 

"  Let  us  understand  each  other,"  she  continued. 
"  Till  we  are  out  of  Russia,  I  presume,  in  public,  for 
my  own  safety  I  must  permit  you  the  endearments 
of  a  husband."  This  last  with  a  grimace  that  indi- 
cated a  reluctance  that  enraged  me.  "But  ijt pri- 
vate, my  dear  colonel,  please  keep  your  distance. 
We  leave  St.  Petersburg,  I  understand,  the  day 
after  to-morrow,  so  you  will  have  only  a  short  time 
to  suffer." 

"  And  you  treat  with  contempt  a  man  who  is 
risking  his  life  for  you  ?  "  I  stammered  out. 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  I  37 

"  You — you  were  very  noble — last  evening  !  "  she 
murmured.  "  Be  the  same  until  the  end.  I  do  not 
love  you  ;  from  now  on,  my  lips  are  my  own  !  " 

"  And  Sacha's,"  I  cried,  wild  with  jealousy  and 
rage. 

At  this  she  turned  very  pale  and  muttered  : 
"  Don't  insult  me  !  " 

*'  Remember,"  I  went  on  sternly,  ''while you  bear 
my  name,  while  you  are  known  as  my  wife,  I  shall 
protect  your  honor — my  honor,  as  if  the  nuptial 
vows  had  passed  between  us  at  the  altar  !  " 

''If  my  wifely  conduct  does  not  suit  you,  my 
official  spouse,"  she  said,  with  a  mocking  smile, 
"  you  have  your  remedy." 

"What!" 

"  The  divorce  court !  "  she  laughed,  and  moved 
toward  the  door  of  her  room,  while  I  stood  petri- 
fied at  her  assurance.  "  This  scene  wearies  me," 
she  went  on,  stifling  a  yawn.  "  I  am  fatigued — good- 
night, Arthur."  She  paused  at  the  threshold,  then 
anger  blazed  up  in  her.  Her  cheeks  grew  red  and 
flaming;  she  cried  :  "You  took  advantage  of  me  at 
the  Weletskys'  ;  you  pressed  burning  kisses  on  my 
lips  that  you  could  see  writhed  under  your  caresses. 
I  could  not  protect  myself  then,  because  of  our 
peculiar  relationship — but  I  avenge  myself  nozu  /  " 

"  Yes — for  the  sake  of  Sacha  !  "  I  answered.  "  Be- 
cause he  suffered  at  seeing  my  caresses,  you  suffered 
also.  You  love  this  dandy  major — this  reprobate 
— this  high-roller,  the  lady-killer  of  the  Guards — 
this " 

With  a  mocking  laugh  she  had  flown  into  her 
room  and  locked  her  door  in  my  face. 


138  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

But  the  victory  was  not  all  hers,  I  reflected. 
I  had  this  destroyer  of  my  happiness'  letter — I 
would  read  it.  If  it  contained  aught  that  a  husband's 
eyes  should  not  see,  I  would  call  him  to  account. 
He  thought  Helene  my  wife — she  bore  my  name. 
Any  disrespect  to  her  was  as  much  an  insult  to  me 
as  if  she  were  my  real  spouse.  I  strode  into  my 
chamber,  slipped  my  hand  into  the  pocket  of  my 
dress-coat  to  seize  upon  Sacha's  billet  dotix. 

Desperation  !  it  was  gone.  My  siren's  deft  hands 
had  regained  the  note  as  she  had  caressed  me  in 
the  carriage — that  was  the  reason  of  her  temporary 
kindness. 

I  would  have  that  letter.  I  flew  back  to  the  door 
of  her  room  and  paused  astonished.  Her  voice 
came  to  me  over  the  transom.  She  was  singing  the 
"  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  and  chuckling  between 
verses. 

"That  letter !  "  I  cried  to  her.  ''  I  will  have  that 
letter !  " 

"  It  is  gone,  dear  ;  I  destroyed  it,"  came  back  to 
me. 

"  You  have  read  it  ?  " 

*'  Certainly." 

"Then  I  wish  to  see  you  !  "  I  cried. 

"  To-morrow  morning,  my  love  !  You  had  better 
go  to  sleep,"  she  said.  "  Sleep  will  make  you  rea- 
sonable. I  shall  answer  you  no  more  this  evening. 
Go  to  sleep.     Good-night — once  more  !  " 

"  Sleep  !  "  How  could  I  sleep,  with  the  fury,  the 
jealousy,  the  madness  that  was  in  my  brain?  I 
strode  the  floor  of  the  room,  muttering  curses  upon 
Sacha's  head.     The  atmosphere    of   the   place    op- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 39 

pressed  me.  I  put  on  my  overcoat  and  bolted  out 
of  my  apartment,  then  out  of  the  hotel,  and  walked 
up  and  down  the  street.  This  woman  for  whom 
I  had  risked  so  much  despised  and  taunted  me. 
Every  policeman  that  I  passed  reminded  me  of  the 
dangers  I  had  undergone,  and  was  still  undergoing, 
for  her  sake. 

I  walked  the  streets  half  an  hour  ;  then  I  thought 
I  would  go  to  the  Yacht  Club,  but  when  nearly  at 
its  lighted  portals,  I  paused. 

There  I  would  probably  meet  Sacha,  and  might 
do  some  wild  thing,  perhaps  challenge  him  to  a 
duel,  which  might  bring  about  investigation  that 
would  be  fatal  to  me  ;  so  I  turned  back. 

Reaching  the  pavements  of  the  Nevsky,  which 
was  still  brilliantly  illuminated,  it  not  yet  being  mid- 
night, the  sign  of  a  French  drug  store  caught  my 
eye. 

Insensibility  was  better  than  the  emotions  that 
were  tearing  me  to  pieces.  I  stepped  in.  A  young 
French  chemist  from  across  the  counter  asked  me 
politely  what  he  could  do  for  me. 

I  said  :  "  I  am  troubled  with  insomnia.  I  must 
have  sleep  !  You  can  give  me  some  preparation  to 
produce  that  effect  ?" 

*'  Of  course,"  he  replied.  "  I  can  arrange  some 
powders  for  monsieur." 

As  he  made  up  the  preparation  I  fell  to  chatting 
with  the  man  to  drive  away  thought. 

"  How  long  will  it  take  one  of  these  to  act  ?  "  I 
asked. 

*'  Probably  an  hour." 

"  A  long  time.     Can  I  not  hasten  its  effect  ?  " 


140  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

'*  Certainly;  take  two  !  " 

"  How  much  will  that  reduce  the  time  of  action  ?  " 

"  Probably  to  half  an  hour." 

"And  three?"  said  I,  for  I  was  anxious  to  get 
out  of  my  mental  misery. 

"  Three  ?  Probably  fifteen  minutes,  but  three " 

'*  Might  be  dangerous  !  "  I  interrupted. 

"  Well,  hardly,"  the  young  man  said,  consider- 
ingly ;  "  but  still  I  would  not  advise  three." 

"Ah!  but  in  case  of  an  overdose?  "  queried  I,  for 
I  like  to  always  know  the  tools  with  which  I  am 
working. 

"  Oh,  take  the  usual  antidotes  for  opium." 

''What  are  they?" 

'■'■  Coffee,  unceasing  exercise,  and,  if  necessary, 
belladonna." 

By  this  time  he  had  made  up  the  powders,  which 
were  eight  in  number,  and  handed  them  to  me, 
remarking  :  "  These  will  last  you  several  even- 
ings." 

"  Would  you  mind  giving  me  some  belladonna  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,  to  a  man  of  monsieur's  apparent 
station  !  "     He  filled  a  little  vial  for  me. 

"  How  many  drops  of  this  for  a  dose  ?  " 

"Ten,  and,  if  necessary,  repeat  it  in  an  hour." 

I  paid  him,  and  swallowed  one  of  the  powders 
before  I  left  the  store.  Then  I  tramped  back  to  the 
hotel,  went  to  my  solitary  room,  and  finding  that 
one  did  not  act  with  sufficient  speed,  swallowed 
another.  In  bed  the  misery  of  my  situation  left 
me ;  pain  gave  place  to  insensibility,  and  I  slept. 

The  next  morning  the  sun  was  shining  in  upon 
me.     I  felt  elated,  almost  happy,  and  feared  neither 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I4I 

the  secret  police  nor  the  czar  himself.  The  horrid 
grinding  of  a  hand-organ  coming  in  through  the 
window  seemed  to  me  as  beautiful  as  the  music  of 
Italian  opera  sung  by  the  great  singers  of  this  world. 
Opium,  what  a  fearful  master,  what  a  tender  servant 
you  are  to  suffering  humanity  ! 

I  arose,  dressed,  and  stepped  into  the  parlor,  to 
find  a  deserted  table.  Madame  had  already  break- 
fasted and  gone  out,  so  the  waiter  informed  me. 

Not  caring  to  see  this  being  whose  allurements, 
graces,  and  coldness  had  become  to  me  a  torture,  I 
took  a  hurried  cup  of  coffee  and  an  underdone  egg, 
cogitating  to  myself  glumly  that  I  would  soon  break 
the  heart  of  the  dashing  Sacha  by  taking  my  offi- 
cial wife  away  from  his  wiles,  soon  be  in  the  land  of 
safety.  I  would  move  myself  and  dangerous  charge 
out  of  St.  Petersburg  the  next  day,  and  as  soon  as 
across  the  German  frontier — what  ? 

That  would  depend. 

With  this  project  in  my  mind,  I  went  immedi- 
ately to  the  lawyer's,  and  spent  nearly  the  whole 
day  with  him.  The  preliminary  papers  were  already 
drawn  up  for  the  settlement  of  my  daughter's 
estate.  As  her  representative,  I  placed  my  signa- 
ture upon  them,  and  was  ready,  so  far  as  her  business 
was  concerned,  to  leave  St.  Petersburg. 

I  strolled  back  to  my  hotel,  to  tell  Helene  to 
pack  her  trunks.  At  the  door  of  my  parlor  I 
surprised  Mademoiselle  de  Launay.  "  Madame  is 
not  in.  I  called  with  a  message  from  Madame 
Weletsky.  She  wishes  the  address  of  your  wife's 
Paris  milliner,"  she  remarked,  in  answer  to  my  in- 
quiring glance. 


142  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

"  I  will  ask  my  wife  to  send  it  at  once,**  replied  I, 
"as  we  leave  St.  Petersburg  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow  ?  "  cried  the  governess,  in  a  tone  of 
relief. 

"  Certainly  !  Please  present  my  compliments  to 
Madame  Weletsky  and  notify  her  of  the  fact,"  an- 
swered I. 

"  To-morrow  !  "  muttered  the  Frenchwoman,  as 
if  this  news  was  too  good  to  be  true,  and  she  tripped 
away  with  sparkling  eyes  and  buoyant  step. 

Helene  not  being  in,  I  stepped  to  the  office  of 
the  hotel,  delivered  up  my  card  de  s/Joi/r,  and  asked 
them  to  send  for  passports  for  Colonel  and  Madame 
Lenox  to  leave  Russia. 

"  Certainly  !  "  said  the  commissionaire.  "  You 
leave  by  what  train  ?  " 

"  The  one  P.M.  to-morrow,  direct  for  Berlin  via 
Eydtkuhnen." 

''  You  arc  leaving  sooner  than  you  expected,  " 
said  the  man.  "  Monseiur  has  changed  his  mind." 
There  was  a  grin  on  his  face  ;  he  was  looking  at 
the  main  hallway  of  the  building,  through  which, 
in  most  becoming  carriage  toilet,  Helene  was  pass- 
ing, the  handsome  Sacha  in  full  uniform  bending 
his  face  down  to  hers,  and  speaking  to  her  with 
both  eyes  and  mouth  at  the  same  time. 

The  blush  of  shame  came  on  me — even  the  hotel 
servants  noted  the  flirtation  of  the  lady  who  bore 
my  name.  This  commissionaire^  this  head  baggage- 
smasher,  thought  in  his  ignoble  way  that  I  was  leav- 
ing Russia  hurriedly  to  take  my  wife  from  the  pres- 
ence of  a  man  whose  fascinations  I  found  too  potent 
for  me  to  combat. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I43 

There  was  an  awful  look  in  my  eyes  as  I  stepped 
up  to  Helene,  seeing  which  that  lady  paused,  biting 
her  lip.  Then  her  face  changed,  a  smile  played 
over  it.  She  said  :  "  Arthur,  you  naughty  boy,  you 
did  not  get  up  in  time  for  breakfast  this  morning. 
I  would  have  awakened  you,  but  you  were  sleeping 
so  soundly." 

"  Ha — ah  !  too  much  Yacht  Club  last  night,  eh, 
my  dear  Lenox  ?  "  cried  Sacha,  with  extended  hand 
and  cordial  voice. 

What  wonderful  actors  these  Slavs  are  !  I  knew 
he  hated  me.  He  should  not  excel  me  in  diplomatic 
arts  ;  and,  though  I  loathed  him,  I  seized  his  proffered 
fingers  with  a  cordial  grip,  and  answered  :  "  No, 
Cousin  Sacha.  I  never  tempt  the  goddess  of  the 
card-table  the  evening  after  she  has  been  very  kind 
to  me  !  "  Next,  thinking  to  give  them  both  new 
pangs,  I  cried  in  my  most  doting  manner :  "■  You  owe 
me  my  morning  kiss,  little  wife.  You  won't  mind  it 
in  public r  And  knowing  she  could  not  well  refuse 
me  under  the  circumstances,  I  stepped  up  to  my 
beautiful  tormentor,  and  was  about  to  salute  her 
lips  as  fondly  as  ever  bridegroom  saluted  bride. 

But  even  in  the  act,  so  helpless,  so  hopeless,  so 
pleading  a  look  came  into  her  wondrous  eyes  that  I 
took  pity,  and  my  mustachios  only  brushed  her  fair 
forehead  instead  of  lingering  on  the  soft  red  lips 
that  whispered  to  me,  "  Thank  you !  " 

"  I  have  just  come  from  making  my  calls  with 
Madame  Weletsky,"  she  said,  giving  me  a  grateful 
smile.  "  Cousin  Sacha  has  kindly  consented  to  take 
care  of  me  as  far  as  the  Princess  Palitzin's."  She 
tossed  him  a  confiding  look  that  made  me  writhe, 


144  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

and  continued :  ''  You  know  I  give  the  rest  of  my 
afternoon  to  her.  You  are  expected  to  join  us  for 
dinner  in  the  evening.  £71  route  I  just  stepped  into 
the  hotel  for  a  heavier  fur,  the  day  has  become  so 
much  colder ;  also  to  deliver  a  message  to  you  from 
Constantine  Weletsky.  He  wishes  to  see  you  this 
afternoon." 

"  I  was  about  going  there,"  replied  I.  "  Having 
finished  the  preliminaries  of  our  daughter's  business, 
we  are  now  ready  to  leave  Russia." 

"We  depart?"  she  said  eagerly. 

"  To-morrow  at  one  o'clock,"  remarked  I. 

"  You  go — so  soon  ?  "  sighed  Sacha,  a  tone  of 
startled  regret  in  his  voice. 

"-  Ha,  ha  !  "  thought  I,  with  a  grin  ;  ''  that  doesn't 
please  you  much."  For  I  could  see  his  mustache 
tremble  with  anxiety  as  he  cried  out :  "  The  Igna- 
tief's  ball  is  to-morrow  night ;  you  will  miss  it — 
you  would  be  its  belle.     This  must  not  be  ! " 

*'  It  is  impossible  that  I  remain,"  murmured 
Helene,  though  she  tried  to  palliate  the  refusal  of 
her  lips  by  the  glance  of  her  eyes. 

''  Yes,"  replied  I  ;  "  madame  is  anxious  for  the 
delights  of  Paris  once  more."  Then  I  added  an 
additional  pang  to  my  rival's  woes  ;  I  said  pointedly : 
"  How  delighted  young  Henri  de  Saint  Germaine 
will  be  to  see  you  again,  ini  cara  sposa.  Au  revoir 
till  this  evening."  And  lifting  my  hat,  would  have 
departed,  but  a  recollection  of  Mademoiselle  de 
Launay's  visit  flashed  through  my  brain. 

I  suddenly  said  :  "■  I  must  whisper  a  few  words 
into  your  ear,  my  pet.  Cousin  Sacha  will  excuse 
you  a  moment." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 45 

She  saw  something  in  my  face  that  made  her 
respond  to  my  request  instantly.  ''  Wait  for  me 
at  the  carriage,  Alexander,"  she  cried.  ''My  hus- 
band's going  to  lecture  me.  It's  about  our  trunks, 
as  usual,  I  suppose?" 

She  put  on  a  charming  little  pout,  and  the  guards- 
man leaving  us,  she  was  at  my  side  in  an  instant, 
whispering  with  serious  face:  "What  is  it?" 

''  Come  to  our  apartments,"  answered  I. 

She  followed  me  without  a  word.  I  led  her  to 
the  door  of  her  room.  "  Now,"  whispered  I,  "  look 
your  things  over.     Have  they  been  examined?" 

She  made  a  short  inspection,  then  said  suddenly : 
*'  Yes,  since  I  have  been  gone." 

''  You  had  nothing  that  might  betray  you  ?" 

"  Nothing,"  she  answered  ;  then  noticing  my  anxi- 
ety, she  whispered  :  "  You  need  have  no  fears.  Every 
article  of  my  clothing  I  had  properly  marked  before 
leaving  Paris.  See  !  "  She  held  up  a  handful  of  deli- 
cate lingerie  and  lace,  the  sight  of  which  made  the 
blood  fly  about  in  me  as  I  examined  them,  and  found 
with  a  start  that  all  bore  the  initials  ''  L.  M.  L." — 
those  of  my  true  wife. 

"No  papers?"   I  questioned. 

"  No ;  all  relating  to  that  business  I  have  in 
here."    She  gave  her  forehead  a  playful  little  tap. 

"  Ah !  you  are  a  deep  one." 

"  I  hope  so,"  she  said  quietly ;  "  but  what  made 
you  suspect  a  search?" 

"  Only  this,"  answered  I  ;  "  I  met  Mademoiselle 
de  Launay  at  the  door  of  our  apartment  a  few 
minutes  ago.  She  informed  me  that  she  came  with 
a  message  to  you  from  Madame  Weletsky.     Five 


146  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

minutes  after  I  see  you  and  learn  you  have  just 
come  from  the  lady  who  sent  the  message.  What 
need  had  she  to  send  a  communication  to  you  that 
she  could  have  made  herself?"  With  this  I  gave 
her  every  detail  of  my  interview  with  the  gover- 
ness, concluding:  ''You  see  your  affair  with  Sacha, 
as  I  predicted,  has  made  you  another  enemy." 

'■'Another  enemy  ?  "  she  said,  opening  her  eyes  in 
surprise.     ''  Have  I  any  more  ?  " 

*'  You  should  have,"  said  I,  severely.  "  The  young 
princess,  Dozia  Palitzin." 

''  Oh,  she  adores  me  !  "  she  laughed. 

"  Also  the  man  whose  name  you  are  playing  with," 
I  went  on  sternly ;  ''  the  man  to  whose  face  your 
lightness  brings  the  blush  of  shame." 

"  Oh,  you  don't  hate  me  !  "  she  said  sweetly ; 
then  continued  sadly  :  "  Perhaps  some  day,  when 
you  know,  you  will  forgive  me.  As  to  mademoiselle 
the  spy,  I  shall  take  care  of  her."  Next  cried : 
"  Both  Sacha  and  Madame  Palitzin  will  be  wait- 
ing," and  stepped  into  the  hall,  where,  turning  her 
head,  she  called  back  to  me :  **  Don't  fear,  Arthur, 
my  trunks  will  be  ready  for  the  one  o'clock  train." 
And  so  ran  away  from  me,  while  I,  with  a  sigh,  took 
my  route  to  Constantine  Weletsky's  mansion  on 
the  English  Ouai. 

Here  I  found  my  Russian  relative  awaiting  me. 
The  preliminary  papers  had  been  sent  him  from 
my  lawyers.  These,  after  consultation  with  his 
attorney,  he  signed.  A  minute  after  we  were  to- 
gether, and  fell  to  chatting  confidentially,  he  ex- 
pressing to  me  his  sorrow  at  our  short  visit,  though 
not  pressing  me  to  remain.     In  fact,  I  could  see  it 


xMY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 47 

was  with  almost  relief  he  heard  that  I  was  to  take 
my  wife  so  immediately  from  St.  Petersburg. 

Then  we  sauntered  into  the  drawing-room  to- 
gether, where  I  found  Madame  Weletsky,  little 
Sophie,  and  her  governess,  whose  eyes  again  seemed 
joyous  as  I  made  my  announcement  of  departure  on 
the  morrow.  As  I  did  so,  I  remarked  to  Olga  that 
my  wife  would  give  her  the  address  of  her  Paris 
milliner  when  she  bade  her  adieu  in  person. 

''  Your  wife's  milliner  ?  "  repeated  Madame  We- 
letsky, surprised. 

"Yes,  madame;  you  remember  you  expressed  a 
wish  for  it?"  suddenly  suggested  the  governess, 
whose  cheeks  had  grown  crimson  at  my  question. 

**  Ah,  yes;  now  you  mention  it,  I  believe  I  did." 

"And,  madame,  I  therefore  took  the  liberty  of 
inquiring  for  it,"  remarked  Mademoiselle  de  Launay. 

"  She  even  walked  as  far  as  the  hotel  for  it,"  said  I. 

"  You  are  a  good  child,  Eugenie,"  cried  her  mis- 
tress, with  an  approving  nod. 

"  Yes,"  chimed  in  the  little  Sophie,  anxious  to 
say  a  word  also.  "  Dear  mademoiselle  has  been 
with  us  only  two  weeks,  but  she  loves  us  all,  even 
naughty  Sacha." 

"  Hush,  you  mustn't  speak  of  your  cousin  in  that 
way,"  cried  the  mother.    • 

"  Who  has  been  telling  this  child  stories  ?  "  said 
the  father,  in  an  awful  voice. 

Under  the  silence  that  fell  upon  them  all  I  took 
my  leave,  fully  convinced  now  that  the  De  Launay's 
visit  to  my  wife's  apartments  was  on  her  own 
account  and  for  no  errand  of  Madame  Weletsky's. 
Anyway,  she  had. found  nothing  compromising,  and 


148  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

I  whistled  as  I  walked  along,  glancing  at  the  river 
panorama,  where  the  vessels  were  taking  in  their 
last  cargoes  before  the  winter  set  its  frosty  hand 
upon  the  Neva  and  made  it  ice. 

As  I  passed  into  the  Admiralty  Square  I  overtook 
Baron  Friedrich.  He  gave  me  a  pleasant  smile  and 
called  out :  "  We  shall  have  no  more  lunches 
together,  my  dear  colonel ;  I  hear  you  are  to  leave 
us  to-morrow." 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  '^  but  how  did  you  learn  that  ?  I 
only  sent  in  my  ticket  de  s(four  two  hours  ago." 

*'  Oh ! "  he  replied,  "  did  you  live  here  long 
enough,  you'd  find  I  know  everything.  I  have  to 
know  everything.  It  is  my  salvation  that  I  know 
everything."  As  he  said  this  he  trotted  along  by 
my  side,  taking  two  short  jumps  to  each  of  my  long 
military  strides. 

*'  You  will  return  to  us — later  in  the  season  ?  "  he 
went  on. 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  **  but  at  present  business  calls 
me  to  Paris,"  and  would  have  given  him  some  fur- 
ther reasons  for  my  sudden  departure. 

But  he  interrupted  me  with  a  little  chuckle  and 
cried:  **  You  have  business  in  Paris — that  is  right,, 
that  is  good  !  The  naughty  Sacha  !  "  and  held  up 
a  playful  finger  at  me.  Then  saying,  "  My  ofifice  is 
here,"  he  disappeared  into  the  great  offices  of  the 
Interior  Department,  which  front  on  a  portion  of 
this  enormous  square,  while  I  with  stern  looks  and 
blushing  cheeks  gazed  after  him,  and  thought  of 
the  shame  that  was  being  brought  upon  my  name. 
"They  think  I  am  flying  to  save  the  honor  of  my 
wife.     Curse  Sacha,"  I  groaned. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


149 


A  moment  after  I  reflected  it  was  much  safer  for 
both  me  and  the  putative  Mrs.  Lenox  that  they 
imagined  this  the  reason  of  my  hurried  departure. 

Could  that  have  entered  my  official  wife's  diplo- 
matic brain — was  she  even  more  sagacious  than  I 
thought  her  ?  Notwithstanding  this,  Baron  Fried- 
rich's  "  naughty  Sacha  "  and  playful  finger  struck 
my  heart  with  jealous  madness. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  POCKET  IN  THE  BALL-DRESS. 

I  ENTERED  my  rooms  at  the  hotel,  to  find  three 
notes — the  first  a  hurried  scrawl  from  Helene.  It 
read : 

"  Hurry  up,  dear  Arthur  ;  I  have  already  dressed  and  gone  on 
alone  to  the  princess's  dinner  ;  come  after  me  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  save  your  reputation  for  politeness  by  being  in  time  at  the 
feast.  WiFEY." 

Under  the  circumstances  it  was  just  as  well,  I 
reflected,  that  she  had  driven  to  the  Palitzins'  alone. 
Tete-a-tetes  with  my  official  bride  in  her  present 
state  of  haughty  coolness  were  unpleasant  to  me. 

The  second  was  a  note  from  Boris  on  board  his 
ship  at  Cronstadt,  inviting  madame  and  myself  to  run 
down  and  inspect  his  vessel.  He  had  evidently  not 
yet  heard  of  our  intended  departure. 

The  third  was  an  envelope  containing  the  pass- 
port of  Colonel  Arthur  Lenox  and  wife  to  leave 
Russia  via  Eydtkuhnen. 

Relief,  happiness,  elation  came  to  me  as  I  read 
the   document.      I  could  leave  the  dangers  of  dis- 


150  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

covery  and  the  tortures  of  jealousy  by  departing 
with  "  my  official  wife  "  on  the  morrow.  No  suspi- 
cion rested  upon  us ;   the  rat-trap  was  open. 

I  dressed  and  went  to  the  Palitzins'  in  excited 
mood,  to  find  there  such  a  dinner-party  as  is  never 
seen  outside  the  court  circles  of  some  great  Euro- 
pean capital ;  the  gentlemen  nearly  all  in  gorgeous 
uniforms — my  coat  being  the  only  black  one  at  the 
table. 

The  company  were  mostly  of  the  younger  and 
gayer  set,  Sacha  seeming  the  liveliest  beau  in  the 
room.  A  new  and  wild  joy  seemed  to  be  in  the 
eyes  of  this  Tartar  guardsman  that  took  away  my 
appetite  with  a  sudden  terror  and  destroyed  my 
conversation,  and  for  the  first  half  hour  of  the  din- 
ner-party I  fear  I  was  rather  commonplace. 

But  later  the  rich  vintages  served  so  lavishly  got 
into  my  circulation  and  I  became  my  old  jovial 
self,  keeping  my  part  of  the  table  laughing  at  my 
anecdotes  of  Turkey,  Egypt,  Spain,  Mexico,  and 
the  United  States  ;  in  fact,  distributing  my  humor- 
ous stories  over  nearly  the  whole  globe. 

The  only  one  who  did  not  laugh  at  them  was  the 
young  Princess  Dozia,  whose  soft  eyes  were  turned 
pathetically  on  Sacha  as  he  devoted  himself  almost 
openly  to  my  official  spouse,  who  sat  upon  his 
other  hand. 

In  Russia,  however,  no  man  is  presumed  in 
society  to  keep  a  strict  eye  upon  his  wife.  I  fol- 
lowed the  custom  and  devoted  myself  to  cham- 
pagne and  the  various  Russian  beauties  who  came  in 
my  way,  with  results  that  might  have  been  satisfac- 
tory had  my  stay  in  the  capital  been  longer. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  151 

As  it  was  I  could  not  help  thinking  to  my- 
self every  now  and  then  :  "  This  contest  between 
jealousy  and  terrror  will  be  finished  at  one  P.M.  to- 
morrow."  So,  discounting  the  miseries  and  anx- 
ieties of  the  present  by  the  delights  and  safety  of 
the  future,  I  contrived  to  make  a  tolerable  evening 
of  it,  until  the  time  came  for  us  to  take  leave  of 
our  hostess. 

"A  most  delightful  dinner-party,  my  dear  prin- 
cess," murmured  Helene  ;  *'  probably  my  last  one  in 
Russia." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Madame  Palitzin, 
opening  her  eyes. 

"  I  presume,"  remarked  I,  "  my  wife  refers  to  the 
fact  that  I  have  my  passport  in  my  pocket  to  leave 
St.  Petersburg  to-morrow." 

"  And  take  your  wife  with  you !  I  will  not 
permit  it,"  cried  the  princess,  hurriedly.  *'  To-mor- 
row evening  is  the  Ignatief's  ball  in  the  Sa//e  de 
Noblesse ;  it  v/ill  be  one  of  the  sights  of  the  winter. 
And,  colonel,  you  will  not  deprive  your  wife  of 
the  fete,  for — don't  whisper  it,  either  of  you — the 
czar  will  be  there  in  person,  though  it  is  at  present 
a  court  secret.  The  emperor,  for  prudential  rea- 
sons, never  signifies  his  intentions  of  visiting 
any  private  entertainment  until  the  day  itself, 
but  I  think  I  can  promise  your  wife  a  presentation 
to  the  czar.  Why,  it  will  be  the  event  of  her 
life  !  " 

"  The  event  of  my  life ! "  echoed  Helene,  and 
through  her  came  the  sudden  rush  of  some  mighty 
emotion.  Her  form  seemed  to  grow  large,  com- 
manding, and  noble  ;  her  eyes  began  to  glow  with  a 


152  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

fire  that  I  attributed  to  cursed  female  vanity  and 
love  of  admiration. 

"  Nevertheless,"  replied  I,  shortly,  "  business  calls 
me  to  Paris,  and  I  always  take  my  wife  with  me. 
I  know  American  husbands  are  supposed  to  allow 
their  ladies  every  liberty,  but " 

"  But  she  will  coax  you  to  relent  by  to-morrow,'* 
laughed  my  hostess.  "  Promise  me  you  will,  Ma- 
dame Lenox." 

"  I  will  write — to  you — to-morrow,"  replied  my 
wife,  slowly,  almost  falteringly. 

**  Oh  !  I  know  you  will  succeed." 

"  Not  this  time,"  said  I,  with  a  sternness  that  made 
the  princess  look  at  me  twice,  also  at  Sacha,  who 
was  approaching  to  have  another  of  his  "  last  words" 
with  /a  belle  Americaine.  So,  taking  Helene  rapidly 
down-stairs,  I  put  her  in  our  carriage  and  drove  off 
before  that  enterprising  young  officer  had  more 
than  reached  the  curbstone. 

This  communication  of  the  princess  seemed  to 
have  set  my  wife  thinking ;  at  all  events,  she  said 
but  little  to  me  on  our  drive  home,  and  I,  being 
in  very  glum  humor,  for  her  eyes  had  not  been 
turned  once  to  me  during  the  whole  evening, 
merely  escorted  her  to  our  rooms,  and  remarked 
sententiously :  "  You  know  I  have  the  pass- 
ports? " 

'^  Y-e-s." 

"  For  you  and  me  to  leave  Russia  ?  " 

"Y-e-s." 

"  We  depart  on  the  one  o'clock  train.  See  that 
your  baggage  is  ready." 

"  Y-e-s." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I  53 

She  seemed  to  sigh  out  these  monosyllables  as  if 
she  hardly  heard  my  words. 

''Very  well,"  said  I  ;  *' good-night." 

''  Good-night,"  she  replied,  and  passed  into  her 
apartment,  I  noting  that  the  gaslight  seemed  to 
make  her  look  much  paler  than  she  did  under  the 
wax  illuminations  of  the  princess's  dinner-table. 

Then  I  went  to  the  Yacht  Club  and  put  in  two  or 
three  hours  at  baccarat,  the  fickle  goddess  of  fort- 
une turning  her  face  from  me  so  persistently  that  I 
got  to  grimly  thinking  to  myself  that  I  was  in  for  a 
run  of  bad  luck  in  other  things  as  well  as  cards. 

I  strolled  home  in  the  early  morning  light,  and 
reaching  the  office  of  the  hotel,  ordered  them  to  call 
me  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  that  would  give  me 
three  hours,  plenty  of  time  to  pack  my  valise,  get 
my  breakfast,  and  take  her  who  was  my  danger  and 
my  distraction  to  the  train. 

I  knew  I  could  not  sleep  in  my  present  state  of 
mind,  so  I  took  two  powders,  figuring  that  after  six 
hours'  sleep  the  call  at  ten  o'clock  would  be  sure  to 
awaken  me. 

As  I  entered  our  salon  to  go  to  my  room  the  light 
was  still  burning  over  Helene's  transom  and  I  heard 
the  sounds  of  her  steps  as  she  moved  about.  ''  Ah, 
ha  !  "  chuckled  I,  "  she  has  got  more  packing  to  do 
than  I  have,  and  has  been  making  a  night  of  it  with 
her  trunks." 

Then  I  went  to  my  room,  slipped  into  bed,  and 
the  opium  set  my  tired  brain  at  rest.  God  bless 
those  powders  ! 

In  my  sleep  I  heard  noises  and  had  visions.  I 
dreamt  there  was  a  rapping  on  my  door  and  some- 


154  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

body  said,  '^  Ten  o'clock  ;  "  that  there  was  more  noise 
and  a  voice  cried  to  me,  '^  It's  eleven ;  look  sharp, 
sir,"  and  I  cursed  him  with  awful  Turkish  words  ; 
and  then  a  sweeter  dream  came  unto  me :  Helene  in 
some  misty  dress,  with  soft,  repentant  kiss  and  mur- 
mured farewells,  and  a  dainty  little  note  she  pressed 
into  my  hand;  and  I  was  awakened  by  the  knocking 
of  the  hall  porter  on  my  door. 

^'  It  is  twelve  o'clock,  monsieur  !  " 

''  Twelve  o'clock  !  I  told  you  to  call  me  at  ten  !  " 

"  So  I  did,  Barin,  but  couldn't  awaken  you.  I 
tried  at  eleven  again,  and  madame,  as  she  went  out, 
said  I  was  not  to  let  you  sleep  a  minute  after 
twelve  on  any  account." 

"  All  right  !  "  cried  I,  and  sprang  up  eagerly  and 
joyously  to  get  away  from  St.  Petersburg.  I  had 
just  an  hour  to  slip  on  my  things,  pack  my  valise, 
bolt  my  breakfast,  and  get  to  the  train.  Curse 
those  powders  ! 

Helene  was  apparently  already  prepared  for 
departure.  But  as  I  left  the  bed  surprise  greeted 
me — in  my  hand  there  was  a  crumpled  paper  and  a 
hasty  scrawl  that  read  : 

"  Dear  Arthur,  I  have  decided  to  remain  for  the  Ignatiefs  ball  ; 
the  temptation  was  too  great.  So  do  not  wait  for  me.  Run  on  to 
Berlin  to-day.     On  no  account  wait  for  your 

Helene." 

I  knew  her  handwriting,  and  stared  at  this 
astounding  missive.  I  could  not  believe  that  for  all 
the  fetes  on  earth  she  would  take  such  tremendous 
risks. 

I  sat  down  in  a  dazed,  undecided  way  and  looked 
at  my  watch — in  my  hurry  opening  the  cover  oppo- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 55 

site  the  face.  *'  Blue  eyes  in  Paris  "  were  looking  at 
me — the  miniature  of  my  true  wife  that  in  my 
four  days'  madness  I  had  forgotten  to  look  upon. 
It  would  be  insanity  for  me  to  remain  to  face  such 
peril  for  this  lady,  whom  I  glumly  reflected  could 
take  better  care  of  herself  than  I  could  of  my- 
self. 

Thus  resolved,  I  packed  my  valise  in  a  very  few 
minutes  and  stepped  into  the  salon  with  it  in  my 
hand.  My  watch  showed  a  quarter  past  twelve.  I 
attacked  the  breakfast  that  had  been  waiting  for  me 
since  ten  o'clock — two  gulps  of  cold  coffee,  a  few 
bites  of  sodden  toast  and  mutton  cutlet,  and  I  was 
provisioned. 

The  door  of  the  rat-trap  was  open  to  me.  I  was 
passing  out  on  my  way  to  the  office  of  the  hotel, 
the  railway,  and  freedom.  I  gave  one  look  at 
the  room  of  the  absent  Helene.  I  was  about  to 
part  from  this  being  who  had  been  my  joy,  my 
anxiety,  my  despair.  I  sighed  as  I  thought  what 
would  be  her  fate,  for  no  man  could  have  endured 
her  fascinations  and  failed  to  feel  a  pathetic  in- 
terest in  this  modern  Cleopatra. 

But,  choking  down  feeling,  I  was  opening  the 
door,  when  upon  the  threshold  I  caught  sight  of  a 
little  folded  slip  of  paper,  which  had  apparently 
been  slipped  under  the  door. 

At  such  moments  everything  is  anxiety — sus- 
picion. 

I  seized  this  scrap  of  paper  and  hurriedly  opened 
it.     This  stared  me  in  the  face  : 

"As  you  value  your  honor  as  a  husband,  do  not  let  your  wife  re- 
main alone  in  St.  Petersburg,  a  prey  to  your  rival." 


156  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

It  was  in  some  disguised  feminine  hand. 

As  I  read,  the  thought  flashed  through  me  that 
Helene  did  not  stay  here  for  the  Ignatief's  ball  but 
for  Sacha's  love.  A  moment's  reflection  and  inves- 
tigation confirmed  my  suspicion.  I  rang  my  bell, 
sent  to  the  office,  and  ordered  my  bill  made  out.  I 
also  asked  had  any  one  inquired  for  us  this  morn- 
ing. 

No  one. 

Why  had  not  Sacha  called  to  bid  her  good-by  ? 
Why  had  Madame  Palitzin  not  dropped  in  to  say 
adieu  ? 

They  knew  Helene  was  not  to  depart.  That 
was  the  reason.  As  this  came  home  to  me  I 
suddenly  became  filled  with  the  agony,  the  mad- 
ness of  a  mighty  jealousy.  What,  leave  her  to 
Sacha's  love?  Have  that  Tartar  jackanapes  tri- 
umph over  me? 

My  risk  in  remaining  I  knew  and  appreciated,  but 
reflected  grimly,  *'  If  she  could  stand  it,  so  could  I. 
Her  note  mentioned  my  peril.  She  was  trying  to 
frighten  me  to  leave  the  field  open  to  the  seductive 
Sacha  and  his  love.  But  I  would  no  more  go  than 
I  would  have  deserted  a  military  post  given  to  my 
care.  The  honor  of  my  name,  my  pride  as  a  man 
demanded  it,  and  the  same  dogged  spirit  rose  up  in 
me  as  in  the  Pyrenees  in  '74,  when  I  held  the  little 
mountain  pass  for  our  master,  Don  Carlos,  in  com- 
pany with  Nunez,  the  celebrated  conspirator,  con- 
trabandist, and  bandit,  against  a  whole  Spanish  regi- 
ment ;  an  exploit  which  gained  for  me  the  title  of 
A  C?ic/ii//o 'Lguox — "  To-the-knife  Lenox" — all  over 
Spain  ;  or  that  other  exploit  of  mine,  when  I,  serv- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 57 

ing  under  Chinese  Gordon  in  the  Soudan,  clung 
on  to  the  Httle  outpost  near  Berber  against  the 
whole  power  of  El-Mahdi,  and  was  the  last  man  to 
leave  the  fort,  a  feat  in  war  for  which  I  was  named 
by  the  fighting  British  officers  "■  Bull-dog  Lenox,"  a 
sobriquet  that  clings  to  me  even  now  all  over 
Egypt. 

Thus  determined,  I  chuckled  :  ''  I  will  play  a  little 
trick  on  you,  my  lady,  and  you,  my  lady's  lover. 
You  shall  think  I  have  left  you  a  clear  field." 

I  walked  calmly  to  the  office  of  the  hotel,  vaHse 
in  hand,  paid  my  bill,  and  told  them  my  wife  would 
remain  for  the  Ignatief's  ball.  Then  I  stepped  to  the 
courtyard  and  looking  at  my  watch,  got  into  a  car- 
riage and  directed  the  driver  to  the  railway  station, 
telling  him  he  had//r?^/j/  of  time,  for  these  Russian 
Jehus  fly  along  the  streets  so  recklessly  I  was  afraid 
the  fellow  would  get  me  to  the  depot  before  the  one 
o'clock  train  ran  out  on  its  way  to  the  Russian  fron- 
tier, though  he  had  only  twenty  minutes  to  do  it  in. 
Fortunately  there  was  a  slight  flurry  of  snow,  the 
first  of  the  winter  season,  which  made  the  streets 
slippery,  and  impeded  the  movements  of  the  tough 
little  Cossack  horse ;  the  whistle  of  the  outgoing 
train  shrieked  in  the  air  as  I  drove  up  to  the  depot. 
The  door  of  the  rat-trap  was  shut  upon  me  for  an- 
other twenty-four  hours.  I  must  confess  to  a  little 
shudder  at  the  thought  of  another  day  of  this  im- 
pending danger,  this  hand  of  Russian  justice  that 
might  strike  in  a  moment  ;  this  haunting  terror 
that  is  more  wracking  to  the  nervous  system  than 
the  wild  danger  of  the  battle  charge,  or  the  deadly 
rush  of  a  forlorn  hope. 


158  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE, 

But  throwing  this  feeling  of  oppression  off,  for  I 
had  become  partially  case-hardened  by  this  time, 
I  chuckled  to  myself:  "A  surprise  for  you,  Mr. 
Sacha  ;  also  for  you,  Madame  Helene  !  "  The  sud- 
den reappearance  of  the  injured  husband! 

To  carry  out  my  design,  I  cursed  the  man  for 
driving  too  slowly,  and  ordered  him  to  return  to 
the  hotel,  where,  thirty  minutes  afterward,  I 
announced  at  the  office  my  misfortune,  and  told 
the  clerk  laughingly  that  he  would  have  another 
day  of  my  company.  Then  I  strode  up  to  my 
salon  to  find  my  suspicions  entirely  correct. 

As  I  opened  the  door  with  my  pass-key,  I  thought 
I  heard  the  sound  of  a  kiss.  I  am  not  sure  now. 
Perhaps  I  do  the  lady  an  injustice  ;  but  it  seemed 
to  me  there  was  that  sound  in  the  air.  I  entered. 
The  handsome  Sacha  sat  there  in  his  uniform,  He- 
lene in  a  lovely  tea-gown — but  they  sat  too  far 
apart.  With  a  startled  cry  of  surprise,  my  official 
wife  rose  up  to  meet  me,  a  set  look  of  horror  on 
her  face,  which  I  ascribed  to  discomfiture. 

She  muttered  :  "  You  did  not  go,  Arthur  ?  My 
Heaven,  you  did  not  go  ?  " 

''  No,"  said  I,  lightly  ;  '^  I  missed  the  train,  but  am 
not  altogether  sorry.  My  fair  spouse,  it  gives  me 
another  day  with  you."  And  I  gave  her  some  hus- 
band's kisses  that  made  them  both  writhe. 

''  Oh,  this  is  delightful,"  said  Sacha,  with  an  ease 
of  manner  for  which  I  envied  and  cursed  him  in 
the  same  breath.  "  My  dear  Lenox,  you  can  now  go 
with  us  to  the  ball.  Madame's  absence  this  morning 
was  a  little  ruse  of  Madame  Palitzin  and  myself," 
he  bowed  to    me,  "■  not  to  permit  you   to  rob  St. 


MY   OFFICIAL    WIFE.  I5g 

Petersburg  society  of  the  presence  of  the  lady  who 
will  be  the  belle  this  evening." 

*'  Ha — ah  !  it  was  a  ruse,"  I  said,  ''  so  you  might  go 
to  the  ball,"  giving  my  lady  a  knowing  little  wink. 

*'  Of  course  !  Here's  the  proof !  "  cried  Helene, 
with  flaming  face  and  eyes,  that  I  attributed  to  anger. 
"  My  ball-dress,  dear  Arthur.  It  has  just  arrived  !  " 
She  ran  into  her  room,  and  throwing  open  the  door, 
displayed  a  magnificent  toilette  de  bal.  "  You  see, 
since  you  caught  us,  I  make  confession  to  you." 

To  which  Sacha  added  :  ''  Yes,  be  prepared,  my 
dear  colonel,  at  ten  o'clock.  Do  not  fail  to  bring 
your  wife.  Madame  has  promised  to  dance  the 
mazurka  with  me." 

The  effrontery  of  the  Tartar  made  my  face  blaze 
with  rage.  I  don't  know  what  I  would  have  said  to 
him  had  the  Princess  Palitzin  not  intruded  at  this 
moment  into  the  awkward  interview. 

She  cried  :  "  Colonel,  I  am  delighted  you  remained. 
It  will  add  another  pleasure  to  the  ball  this  evening. 
With  your  permission  I  will  call  for  you  and  Ma- 
dame Lenox  at  ten  o'clock.  I  think  I  can  promise 
you  both  the  sight  of  your  life." 

Then  the  two  ladies  went  into  a  whispered  con- 
sultation in  regard  to  certain  mysteries  of  toilette 
and  decoration,  while  Sacha,  biting  his  handsome 
mustache  in  vexation  at  his  interrupted  tete-a-tete, 
took  his  leave.  The  Princess  Palitzin,  however,  re- 
mained much  longer.  Helene,  seemingly  fearful  of 
a  private  interview  with  me,  clung  to  her  visitor  all 
through  this  afternoon  ;  sometimes  apparently  in 
feverish  excitement,  sometimes  a  despair  upon  her 
mobile  face  ;  at   others  laughing  as  if    hysterically 


l6o  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

gay.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the  princess  left  us, 
remarking :  "  I  must  attend  to  my  own  duties  now. 
I  have  a  dress  also  to  look  after." 

We  were  face  to  face  and  alone.  She  gave  me 
one  glance  of  anguish,  and  moaned :  ''  My  Heaven  ! 
why  did  you  not  fly  as  I  wrote  you  ?  "  then  cried : 
"  You  would  not  go  !  Your  fate  is  on  your  own 
head!"  and  passed  into  her  bedroom,  leaving  her 
door  open,  while  I  walked  up  and  down  the  floor, 
chewing  the  end  of  my  cigar  and  thinking  with 
internal  chuckles  how  my  unexpected  return  had 
brought  her  despair — despair  because  I  was  still 
there  to  protect  my  name  and  her  honor  from  this 
dashing  guardsman,  for  whose  love  she  would  risk 
her  liberty — her  life. 

As  I  walked,  I  glanced  into  her  room.  To  my 
astonishment,  this  dainty  lady,  who  had  never  plied 
needle  and  thread  before,  was  engaged  in  some  al- 
teration of  her  magnificent  ball-dress. 

"  Ah ! "  said  I,  jeeringly,  *'  it  is  not  beautiful 
enough  yet  for  the  eyes  of  Sacha?  The  bodice 
does  not  sit  becomingly  enough,  eh  ?  Those  white 
arms  and  snowy  shoulders  will  not  be  displayed 
effectively  enough  for  this  Tartar's  tempting." 

'*  No,"  she  said,  with  a  submission  that  surprised 
me ;  "  it  is  the  skirt,"  and  went  on  sewing. 

"  The  skirt — ho,  ho  !  The  train  is  not  in  proper 
condition,  the  panier  does  not  fit  as  closely  as  it 
should  around  that  little  waist  the  guardsman's 
arm  will  clasp  in  the  mazurka." 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  quite  docilely,  for  I  had  expected 
a  rise  out  of  her  on  my  last  jeering  allusion  to  her 
lover.     '^  It  is  iht pa?iier.     Would  you  like  to  see  it? 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  l6l 

It  is   not  convenient  as  it  is  arranged.     There  is  no 
pocket  in  it.     I  am  making  a  pocket  in  the  panzer.'' 

"A  pocket  in  a  ball-dress,"  laughed  I.  "You 
would  horrify  Monsieur  Worth.  What  is  there  to 
carry  ?  The  cologne  bottle,  the  handkerchief — these 
are  rather  ornaments  that  should  be  displayed." 

Then  she  astonished  me  more.  She  rose  up  and 
muttered  :  ''  For  Heaven's  sake,  do  not  distract  me! 
Let  my  thoughts  be  upon — "  then  checked  herself 
suddenly  and  burst  into  tears,  and  cried  :  "  In  mercy 
— in  pity  to  me,  leave  me  to  my  conscience  and  my 
God!" 

"  Your  conscience  is  pricking  you,"  returned  I. 
*'Ah,  ha!  Naughty  Sacha  !  "  And  quoting  the  words 
that  had  nearly  broken  my  heart,  left  the  room  hur- 
riedly, and  went  down  to  the  Yacht  Club,  where  I 
dined,  and  did  not  make  my  appearance  until  half 
an  hour  before  ten  o'clock,  which  would  give  me 
sufficient  time  to  rearrange  rny  toilette  and  watch 
over  the  lady  who  bore  my  name  but  was  not  taking 
proper  care  of  it. 

I  entered  the  salojt  hurriedly  en  route  to  my 
bed-room.  As  I  walked  across  the  floor  a  sigh 
floated  out  to  me  from  Helene's  apartment.  The 
door  was  slightly  ajar.  The  light  shone  through  it 
into  the  salon  not  yet  illuminated.  Curiosity,  pas- 
sion, and  the  thousand-and-one  conflicting  emotions 
and  miseries  of  my  heart  made  me  look  in  upon 
this  being  who  tortured  it. 

Then  I  stepped  back  noiselessly,  an  inexplicable 
surprise  within  me,  for,  kneeling  at  the  side  of  the 
bed.  In  her  ball  toilette,  which  was  all  pure,  shim- 
mering  white,  looking  beautiful  as  an   angel,   with 


1 62  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

fair  neck,  shoulders,  and  arms  uncovered  and  glis- 
tening in  the  light  that  shone  upon  them,  Helene 
was  praying  to  the  Deity  as  if  beseeching  mercy 
for  a  being  that  was  already  dead — a  soul,  upon 
whom  the  gates  of  Hades  were  opening,  a  soul  that 
was  lost  forever  in  this  world  and  the  next. 

Not  daring  to  intrude  on  such  a  scene,  I  passed 
quietly  to  my  room,  made  my  own  arrangements 
for  the  ball,  all  the  time  pondering  upon  this  new 
phase  in  her  nature,  and  what  it  meant. 

From  this  revery  I  was  startled  by  a  laughing 
voice  in  the  parlor  and  a  cry  of  ''  Arthur,  hurry  up, 
old  man  !     The  princess  is  here !  "     It  was  Helene. 

I  entered  to  find  both  ladies  waiting  for  my 
escort,  and  one,  my  official  wife,  more  blooming, 
beautiful,  and  radiant  than  she  had  ever  been  be- 
fore, ecstasy  in  her  tread,  brightness  and  triumph 
in  her  eye.  Why  did  she  pray  as  if  in  sight  of  death  ? 
Why  did  she  laugh  as  if  she  saw  heaven  before  her? 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

THE  IGNATIEF'S   BALL. 

There  was  no  time  for  philosophy  now.  I  as- 
sisted the  ladies  to  our  carriage,  which  five  minutes 
after  was  in  the  crush  of  equipages  driving  into  the 
courtyard  of  the  Sa//e  de  Noblesse,  where  the  great 
ball  given  by  Madame  Ignatief,  in  honor  of  her 
brother  named  to  the  governorship  of  Western 
Siberia,  was  to  be  all  that  a  brilliant  nobility  and 
imperial  presence  could  make  it. 

"  Look !  "  cried  the  princess  to  Helene ;  **  I  told 


A 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 63 

you  true.  The  czar  is  to  be  here  in  person.  See! 
the  Cossacks  of  the  Guard  !  " 

I  glanced  out  of  the  carriage  window ;  about  the 
entrance  of  the  magnificent  building  devoted  to  the 
entertainments  of  the  nobility  was  a  line  of  Cossack 
Lancers,  Grenadiers  in  full  uniform,  and  a  score  of 
footmen  in  the  Ignatief  liveries. 

''You  are  sure  he  will  be  here?"  asked  Helene, 
eagerly. 

"  He,  the  emperor  ?  Certainly  !  Some  of  his 
chamberlains  are  already  at  the  entrance,  and  his 
household  troops  are  on  guard;  a  sure  sign  of  the 
imperial  intention." 

We  were  driving  up  to  the  great  portals  as  this 
was  said,  and  it  struck  me  that  electric  lights 
always  made  Helene  look  unusually  pallid. 

A  moment  after  she  swept  up  the  marble  stair- 
case on  my  arm,  Prince  Palitzin  himself  being  in 
waiting  for  his  wife.  Just  as  we  reached  the  top 
of  the  great  stairway  I  saw  Baron  Friedrich,  and 
knew  the  princess  was  right.  The  czar  was  to  be 
there  in  person.  Following  my  glance,  Helene  saw 
the  chief  of  secret  police,  also. 

Perhaps  some  sudden  link  in  her  nervous  system 
(already  overstrained)  gave  way,  perchance  some 
one  jostled  her  in  the  crush,  as  the  head  of  the 
Third  Section  smiled  upon  us,  and  murmured  : 
"  Ah !  madame  has  changed  her  mind  ;  the  prospect 
of  the  ball  postponed  her  departure." 

Though  she  returned  his  smile  and  cried :  "  A 
woman  would  do  anything  to  see  such  a  fete  as 
this,"  she  staggered  slightly  and  clung  to  my  arm. 

In   doing  so,  the  panier  of  her  dress,  the  one  in 


164  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

which  she  had  made  her  own  private  pocket,  swung 
around  and  struck  me. 

"  Helene,"  whispered  I,  laughingly,  "  that  heavy 
smelling-bottle  you  are  carrying  with  you  will  be  a 
terror  to  your  partners  this  evening." 

"Oh!"  she  replied,  recovering  herself  with  an 
effort,  "  Bouquet  a  la  Jockey  Club  is  not  dangerous 
— often !  " 

But  smelling-bottles  did  not  occupy  my  thoughts 
long.  The  princess,  with  her  husband,  the  Governor- 
General  of  Poland,  led  the  way,  and  we  moved  up  to 
the  hostess  of  the  evening.  As  we  were  presented, 
Madame  Ignatief,  with  the  gracious  affability  that 
had  made  her  so  popular  both  in  London  and  Con- 
stantinople when  her  husband  had  been  ambassador 
at  those  capitals,  said  a  few  words  of  welcome  to  the 
Americans  so  far  from  their  native  land. 

We  turned  from  her  to  give  place  to  others,  and 
standing  on  the  dais  on  which  she  received,  I  looked 
over  that  great  hall  upon  a  scene  of  splendor  the 
like  of  which  I  had  never  beheld,  for  a  gorgeous 
magnificence  that  was  more  of  the  barbaric  East 
than  the  civilized  West,  though  it  united  the  glories 
of  both  Asia  and  Europe. 

To  describe  its  general  effect  is  possible ;  to 
enumerate  its  details,  difficult  as  those  of  the  ka- 
leidoscope of  beautiful  but  perpetual  change  ;  this 
fete  of  graceful  women  in  the  toilettes  of  Paris  and 
the  West,  and  gorgeous  men  whose  uniforms  run 
from  the  diplomatic  costume  of  an  envoy  from 
Bolivia  to  the  barbaric  diamonds  and  Eastern  robes 
of  some  of  the  conquered  Turkoman  khans. 

Picture  this  mass  of  moving  human  color  and  ef- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  165 

feet  in  a  room  of  superb  grandeur  and  magnificence, 
embellished  by  palms  and  growing  plants  that  make 
it  a  garden  of  Eastern  beauty,  and  abov^e  all  this 
wave  a  thousand  fluttering  banners  ;  illuminate  this 
scene  by  wax  lights,  numerous  almost  as  the  stars 
of  heaven  ;  perfume  and  adorn  it  by  flowers 
brought  here  in  myriads  from  the  far-off  sunny 
Crimea  ;  throw  romance  and  poetry  all  about  it  by 
the  delicious  music  of  the  orchestra  of  the  Grand 
Opera,  broadened  and  mellowed  at  times  by  the 
strains  of  the  military  band  of  the  Horse  Guards. 
Add  to  this  all  a  motion,  vivacity,  and  social  clan 
peculiar  to  this  country  of  climaxes  and  impossibil- 
ities, and  you  have  a  faint  idea  of  how  the  Coun- 
tess Ignatief's  ball  looked  to  fighting  Arthur  Lenox, 
who  had  been  more  accustomed  to  camps  and  biv- 
ouacs than  balls  and  boudoirs,  though  pretty  well 
at  home  in  either. 

In  the  excitement,  the  intoxication  of  such  a 
scene,  which  stim.ulates  every  sense  and  every  pas- 
sion by  the  friction  of  them  all,  can  it  be  wondered 
that  I  forgot  the  extraordinary  danger  and  delicacy 
of  my  situation,  and  even  murmured  to  Helene,  w^ho 
was  still  upon  my  arm  :  ''  By  the  Lord  Harry,  I'm 
glad  I  missed  that  train.  I  wouldn't  have  failed  to 
see  this  blow-out  for  anything." 

"  Are  you  ?  "  she  said  gently.  Then  a  peculiar 
look  came  into  her  face,  and  she  muttered :  '^  I  hope 
you'll  enjoy  the  evening.  But  we  must  greet  Con- 
stantine  and  Olga  Weletsky.  Here  they  are ! " 
Then  she  turned  to  my  relatives  and  cried  :  ''  You 
are  surprised  at  our  presence.  You  thought  us  en 
route  for  Berlin  !  " 


l66  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Upon  which  I  greeted  them  also,  explaining  our 
sudden  change  in  plans.  As  I  spoke  to  them  I 
guessed  they  were  not  over-pleased  at  our  linger- 
ing in  St.  Petersburg,  especially  as  Sacha  at  this 
moment  looked  over  Helene's  fair  shoulder,  and 
cried  :  '^  You  are  mine  for  half  a  dozen  dances,  and 
last  and  not  least,  the  mazurka  !  " 

This  general  claim  to  /a  belle  Americaine  was  now 
disputed  by  several  other  gentlemen,  including 
Boris,  who  had  run  up  from  Cronstadt  for  this  fete 
of  the  season. 

So  I  let  the  wasps  fight  for  my  butterfly,  taking 
care  that  I  took  as  a  right  the  opening  lanciers  and 
a  waltz  in  which  I  flattered  myself  she  should  see 
that  I  had  not  forgotten  the  days  when  I  led  the  ger- 
man  in  the  old  mess-hall  at  the  Point.  Does  a  cadet 
ever  forget  his  class  dances,  when  youth  makes 
beauty's  smile  more  beautiful,  and  adds  romance  to 
military  ardor  ? — for  well  he  knows  *'  None  but  the 
brave  shall  win  the  fair." 

These  dances  took  place  early  in  the  evening, 
and  I  am  happy  to  say  no  one  in  that  dazzling  as- 
semblage waltzed  better  than  Colonel  Lenox  and 
his  official  bride — for  no  jackanapes  of  the  Impe- 
rial Guard  could  surpass  my  dancing,  barring  their 
mazurka,  which  is  a  barbaric  and  national  perform- 
ance. 

But  though  her  step  was  perfect  as  to  time,  and 
her  form  floated  in  my  arms  as  light  as  a  fairy's 
poised  upon  a  floweret,  her  manner  was  so  preoccu- 
pied that,  seeing  my  company  was  indifferent  to  her, 
I  left  Helene  to  the  devotions  of  any  one — even 
Sacha ;  and  with  a  silent  imprecation  on  her  indif- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 6/ 

erence,  determined  to  show  her  that  other  ladies 
were  more  susceptible  to  my  charms. 

So  taking  the  arm  of  Boris,  who  chanced  to  pass 
at  the  moment,  we  strolled  off  together,  this  whole- 
hearted young  sailor  making  me  promise  that  if  by 
any  chance  we  remained  longer  in  St.  Petersburg 
we  would  run  down  to  Cronstadt,  be  his  guests  for 
the  day,  and  inspect  his  vessel. 

From  his  company  I  drifted  into  that  of  one  of 
the  ladies  I  had  met  at  the  dinner-party  of  the  pre- 
ceding evening,  and  we  had  a  very  merry  dance  to- 
gether, but  all  this  time  I  kept  a  husband's  eye  upon 
Helene,  and  was  tortured  by  the  attentions  I  saw 
the  persistent  Sacha  lavished  upon  her.  In  fact,  this 
young  Tartar  was  so  pressing,  so  irrepressible,  that 
he  finally  ran  off  most  of  his  other  rivals  and  had  a 
pretty  clear  field  to  himself. 

The  conversation  of  two  people  beside  me  in  the 
crowd  of  lookers-on  showed  they  noticed  it  also. 

A  lady  said  to  a  gentleman :  '^  That  American 
should  look  after  his  beautiful  wife  ;  with  that  reck- 
less Sacha  running  after  her  there  will  be  a  scandal. 
See  that  poor  girl  Dozia,  his  affianced,  gazing  at  him 
with  pathetic  eyes." 

''Pooh!"  replied  her  escort.  "The  Princess 
Palitzin  fears  nothing  for  her  sister.  She  even 
brought  /a  belle  Americaine  here." 

*'0h!  you  men  never  see  anything,"  laughed  the 
lady.  "  Madame  Palitzin  thinks  Sacha  a  worthless 
fellow  and  is  anxious  for  her  sister  to  know  it  also  ; 
consequently  a  scandal  would  be  to  her  liking." 

"  Ha — ah  !  and  she  imagines  the  beautiful  Ameri- 
can will  do  the  business,"  cried  the  masculine  voice. 


l68  MY  OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

This  scrap  of  gossip,  though  it  made  me  white 
with  rage,  told  me  something  I  had  been  unable  to 
understand — viz.,  why  a  woman  of  the  princess's 
rank  had  so  interested  herself  to  detain  my  wife  in 
St.  Petersburg. 

Turning  away  from  this  unpleasing  prospect,  I 
found  myself  beside  Baron  Friedrich.  This  gentle- 
man looked  fatter  than  ever  in  official  uniform,  and 
seemed  in  all  that  glittering  throng  to  be  the  only 
one  who  had  no  friends.  Alone  and  unnoticed,  he 
looked  on  the  pageant  of  which  he  was  no  part  long- 
ingly and  sadly. 

Taking  pity  on  his  isolation,  I  spoke  to  him. 
**  Let's  go  and  get  a  glass  of  champagne  together," 
I  said. 

"With  delight,"  he  replied,  and  brightened  up. 
**  One  moment,  however,"  and  he  turned  to  an  offi- 
cer, who  apparently  reported  to  him.  "  Now,"  he 
cried,  "  for  the  buffet." 

Over  our  wine  we  became  confidential.  *^  You 
haven't  danced  this  evening,"  I  said,  for  want  of  a 
better  remark. 

"  No,  I  am  here  on  business,  and  I  am  glad  my 
business  will  soon  be  over.  Supper  is  at  one — after 
that  the  grand  mazurka.  The  imperial  party  will 
arrive  to  witness  our  national  dance.  When  they 
leave  I  go  home,"  he  said,  with  a  tired  smile. 

"The  emperor  comes  late,"  I  suggested. 

"  Always  !  "  he  said.  "  It  gives  time  for  the  re- 
ports of  all  police  and  inspectors,  guards  and  cham- 
berlains to  be  returned.  By  that  hour  we  know  that 
no  suspicious  person  is  inside  the  outer  cordon  of 
troops." 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 69 

His  manner  was  so  confident  that  I  grinned  to 
myself.     I  knew  he  had  no  suspicion  of  Helene. 

A  moment  after,  the  music  of  the  march  an- 
nounced supper.  To  this  I  took  Madame  Weletsky, 
Constantine  bringing  in  Madame  PaHtzin. 

As  for  Helene,  she  seemed  to  wish  to  get  away 
from  us,  and  made  one  of  a  younger  and  gayer  party, 
of  which  Sacha  made  himself  the  leader,  drinking 
loving-cups  with  my  "  official  bride,"  till  I  could  see 
he  made  his  uncle  savage  and  nervous.  Upon  this 
the  Princess  Palitzin  looked  with  a  good-humored 
smile,  though  she  could  see  poor  Dozia's  heart  was 
breaking. 

For  her  diplomatic  gamble  with  my  honor,  I 
anathematized  this  great  lady,  but  pitied  her  sister, 
and  noticing  she  was  not  even  engaged  for  the 
mazurka,  though  a  charming  dancer — every  one 
considering,  of  course,  that  was  the  property  of  her 
fiance — I  claimed  the  honor  of  it,  and  received  a 
quick  assent. 

The  young  lady  had  plenty  of  spirit,  and  now 
being  convinced  of  her  guardsman's  flirtation,  had 
made  up  her  mind  to  have  a  pleasant  half  hour  with 
the  dashing  American  colonel. 

So  when  the  bugle  call  announced  the  formation 
of  the  glittering  ring  for  this  Russian  national  dance, 
I  stepped  into  it  with  pretty  Miss  Dozia  on  my  arm 
to  do  my  devoir,  I  knew  I  could  not  cavort  about 
in  the  wild  grace  peculiar  to  the  Slav,  but  I  would 
do  my  share  of  kicking,  and  in  my  present  savage, 
reckless  humor  I  didn't  care  much  whether  I  trod 
fair  toes  to  pulp,  and  put  my  martial  heels  through 
lace  flounces  and  tulle  skirts  ad  libitum. 


I/O  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

Ah  !  the  beauty  of  that  dazzHng  circle  !  The 
ladies,  all  young,  in  court  dress,  dc'colletee  de  rigueur, 
with  glittering  arms,  snowy  bosoms,  and  shoulders 
that  glistened  under  the  wax  taper  lights;  the 
gentlemen,  most  of  them  brilliant  officers  of  the 
Garde,  their  uniforms  showy,  with  high  Hungarian 
boots,  glittering  spurs,  gilded  shoulder  knots,  epau- 
lettes, and  decorations. 

Sacha  conducted  Helene  to  the  head  of  the  dance, 
and  I  gazed  in  astonishment.  Could  she  have  the 
hardihood  to  take  the  place  of  leader  in  this  affair 
where  none  but  Russians,  Hungarians,  or  Poles,  who 
are  to  the  manor  born  to  it,  can  excel  in  its  viva- 
cious mazes  ? 

However,  my  official  bride  seemed  to  have  per- 
fect confidence  in  herself,  as  she  conversed  non- 
chalantly with  her  cavalier. 

A  second  after  she  grew  suddenly  pale.  It  was 
when  the  crash  of  the  national  hymn  announced  the 
Autocrat  of  all  the  Russias. 

But  as  he  entered,  she  grew  haughty,  command- 
ing, and  triumphant  herself. 

The  ring  of  dancers  opened  to  right  and  left,  all 
present  rising  and  bowing  as  the  imposing  form  of 
Alexander  the  Third  appeared.  Stalwart,  blond- 
bearded,  and  blue-eyed,  he  looked  both  soldier  and 
ruler  as  he  trod  the  floor  of  that  ball-room,  his  sweet 
consort  upon  his  arm,  whose  dark  eyes  I  noted  were 
anxious  and  nervous  as  they  gazed  about.  Fol- 
lowed by  his  suite  and  bowing  right  and  left,  the 
ruler  of  ninety  millions  and  his  empress  moved 
up  to  the  head  of  the  ball-room,  and  seated 
themselves    on    the  dais,  surrounded    and   flanked 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  lyi 

by  the  high  officers  of  the  court  and  ladies  of 
honor. 

Then  came  the  merry  bugle  signal.  Sacha  led 
Helene  out ;  the  mazurka  was  beginning. 

This  beautiful  dance  is  a  mixture  of  the  cotil- 
lion and  Virginia  reel,  its  various  figures  graceful  in 
their  abandon.  When  danced  with  that  devotion 
to  Terpsichore  peculiar  to  the  Slavic  race,  it  is  a 
dream  to  look  upon,  an  ecstasy  to  take  part  in. 

As  Sacha  and  my  bride  came  down  the  room 
hand  in  hand,  other  couples  followed  them.  Then 
to  the  sound  of  clicking  heels  keeping  time  to 
the  wild  national  rhythm  of  the  music,  the  whirl 
became  wilder  and  more  vivacious,  and  the  abandoji 
more  ecstatic  and  madder  than  ever.  Hungarian 
boots,  spur-tipped  heels,  all  mixed  with  rustling 
draperies  and  flying  skirts  of  tulle  and  lace  and 
gauze  that  floated  from  the  waxen  floor  and  showed 
as  glistening  ankles  and  as  twinkling  feet  as  ever 
set  the  heart  of  man  to  beating. 

Into  this  wild  revel  I  led  the  charming  Dozia,  to 
step  my  prettiest  for  the  honor  of  ^'  Uncle  Sam." 

Though  I  could  not  emulate  the  mighty  Sacha, 
who  danced  like  a  wild  Tartar  of  the  steppes,  I  flat- 
tered myself  I  was  doing  very  well,  and  was  getting 
along  swimmingly,  when 

Suddenly  poor  Dozia  gave  out  a  little  plaintive 
cry  and  sobbed  :  "  You  are  treading  my  feet  to  pieces, 
Colonel  Lenox.     Oh  \—oh  !  /—OH  ! ! !  " 

*'  Treading  her  feet  to  pieces  ?  "  I  was  doing  more 
than  that — I  was  dancing  all  over  her!  My  two 
hundred  pounds  of  brawn  and  muscle  had  become 
limp  and  helpless,  and  was  staggering  and  reeling  all 


1/2  .  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

over  the  poor  little  girl,  and  she  was  gasping  and 
fainting  under  it. 

In  a  turn  of  the  dance  I  had  caught  the  eye  of 
my  official  wife,  and  there  was  a  death  chill  upon 
my  heart.  My  spinal  column  had  lost  its  vital  cord  ; 
my  brain  was  a  conglomerate  of  despair  and  horror ; 
for  now  /  knew  the  reason  of  her  stay  for  this  ball. 

Her  glance  as  it  was  turned  on  the  czar  was  that 
of  the  hunter  looking  on  his  game,  the  wild  beast 
gazing  on  its  quarry!  Fiends  of  despair!  She  had 
stayed  in  Russia  so  that,  face  to  face  with  its  auto- 
crat, she  could  do  him  to  death  I 

This  had  come  to  me  like  a  lightning  stroke  with 
all  lis  proof s  f  Helene  was  willing  to  leave  Russia 
last  night.  She  heard  that  the  czar  would  be  here; 
it  would  be  the  opportunity  of  her  life  !  Then  she 
•had  stayed — not  for  love  of  Sacha,  but  hatred  to  the 
czar.  The  pocket  in  the  dress  was  for  the  tiny 
bull-dog  revolver;  with  it  SHE  WOULD  PISTOL  THE 
AUTOCRAT  OF  NINETY  MILLIONS  TO  DEATH  HERE 
IN  THE  BALL-ROOM. 

Somehow  I  got  my  partner  to  a  seat,  not  greatly 
noticed  in  the  crush.  She  was  glad  to  let  me  go — 
I  was  not  a  good  partner. 

Then  these  terrors  came  through  me  in  flashes. 
If  Helene  did  this  thing,  what  would  be  the  fate  of 
the  Weletskys,  who  had  introduced  her  to  Russian 
society? — Social  damnation  !  The  Princess  Palit- 
zin,  who  brought  her  to  this  ball  ? — Official  ruin  ! 
And  my  fate — my  cruel  fate — I  who  had  imported 
this  woman  into  Russia  as  my  official  wife,  under  a 
false  passport^  to  do  this  deed — I  who  had  designedly 
missed  the  train  this  very  day?     Everything  would 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 73 

make  me  2i  prima  facie  accomplice  before  the  fact. 
What  did  they  do  to  the  murderers  of  the  czar  ? 

Eternal  powers !  I  might  as  well  blow  out  the 
imperial  brains  myself!  Cold  perspiration  came  out 
all  over  me.  My  heart  was  beating  at  two  hundred 
a  minute.     My  brain  was  cold  as  ice,  but  delirious. 

Into  this  hanky-panky  of  trepidation,  horror,  and 
despair,  one  idea  burned.  Something  must  be  done 
immediately  to  protect  us  all. — What  ? 

If  I  told  my  friend  Baron  Friedrich  everything, 
would  it  save  me?  It  might — a/>2x;pangs.  I  would 
not  be  electrized  ;  I  might  simply  be  hanged  with- 
out torture.  I  turned  my  despairing  eyes  toward 
him. 

Baron  Friedrich  was  enjoying  the  mazurka  through 
his  blue  glasses.  It  was  a  lovely  but  awful  sight — 
that  woman  with  grace,  abandon,  poetry  in  her  mo- 
tion, and  murder  in  her  heart  ;  for  Helene's  dance 
was  like  a  swan's  dying  song,  more  beautiful  be- 
cause it  was  to  be  her  last. 

I  half  jostled  my  way  to  Baron  Friedrich,  to  stam- 
mer in  his  ear,  "  For  God's  sake,  arrest  my  wife  at 
once  !  "  but  the  thought  that  he  would  doubtless 
arrest  me  also  made  me  pause. 

A  wild  idea  of  taking  her  away  with  the  authority 
of  a  husband  came  to  me,  but  as  I  saw  her  I  knew 
she  would  not  come,  unless  dragged  by  force.  Her 
eye  when  turned  toward  the  imperial  dais  had  the 
look  of  the  hunter  when  he  sees  before  him  the 
mighty  game  he  has  tracked  and  ambushed  for 
years — the  shot  of  a  lifetime. 

I  tried  to  think — if  flashes  of  agony  can  be  called 
reason.     She    v/ould  not    have    an    opportunity    of 


174  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

approaching  the  imperial  party  till  after  the  dance. 
Then,  when  the  emperor  greeted  his  hostess,  when 
the  salutations  were  made,  the  princess  had  prom- 
ised to  present  her.  Even  now,  caught  by  her 
beauty,  the  czar  was  looking  toward  her  and  asking 
questions  of  his  suite.  When  she  stood  bowing 
before  her  victim,  she  would  give  him  death. 

All  this  would  take  place  very  shortly.  Before 
then  I  must  act — if  not — Baron  Friedrich — I  gave  a 
shudder,  then  a  sudden  gasp.  Nervously,  convul- 
sively, I  had  put  my  hand  into  my  dress  vest  pocket — 
the  one  I  always  wore  in  the  evening.  It  felt  four 
little  packages.  Powders  ! — Opium  ! — INSENSIBIL- 
ITY ! 

Insensible,  Helene,  under  the  plea  of  sickness, 
could  be  carried  out  and  taken  home  by  me,  her 
husband. 

I  flew  to  one  of  the  buffets  2iX\A  called  for  a  glass  of 
champagne.  Into  it,  unseen,  I  poured  three  pow- 
ders, grimly  reflecting  that  they  would  act  quickly 
on  her  delicate  organization.  In  ten  minutes  she 
would  be  harmless.  Three  might  be  dangerous,  but 
she  did  not  care  for  her  own  life.  Why  should  I  } 
I  would  take  no  chances  in  this  matter. 

Then,  for  the  sake  of  appearances,  I  demanded 
another  glass  of  champagne,  all  the  time  fearing  I 
should  hear  the  fatal  report  and  be  too  late.  With 
these  in  my  hand  I  entered  the  ball-room. 

I  gave  a  sigh  of  relief.  She  was  still  in  the  same 
place,  pausing  by  Sacha,  exhausted  by  the  dance. 
There  was  no  time  to  lose.  This  thing  would  not 
last  much  longer.  Already  there  were  signs  of 
movement  in  the  imperial    party.     I   stepped  near 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 75 

her.  She  was  panting.  I  tendered  the  goblet.  Her 
Hps  were  parched  by  nervous  tension.  The  fever  of 
martyrdom  was  in  her  veins.  She  seized  the  glass 
from  my  hands,  muttered  "  Thank  you,"  and  drank 
it  off  as  greedily  as  the  wanderer  on  the  desert  does 
the  water  of  the  oasis. 

Perhaps  there  was  something  in  the  taste,  for  she 
looked  curiously  at  me  as  I  laughed  and  said  :  "  To 
your  health,  my  dear  wife  !  You  have  danced  the 
mazurka  better  even  than  the  Russians  !  "  and 
tossed  off  the  innocent  goblet  of  champagne  my- 
self. 

*'  Just  one  last  turn  !  "  cried  Sacha,  and  led  her 
into  the  whirl  again  with  new  grace,  new  clan,  new 
enthusiasm  !  But  shortly  Helene's  movements  ap- 
peared more  languid.  She  seemed  to  dream  as 
she  danced,  then  fought  to  recover  herself ;  and 
now,  inspired  with  a  new  and  potent  force,  con- 
quered the  drug  within  her  for  a  moment,  for  the 
czar  had  risen.  The  moment  for  presentation  was 
at  hand.  Perchance,  also,  the  music  gave  her  new 
fire,  for  it  was  that  masked  ball  strain  of  Verdi's, 
that  immortal  dance  music  that  has  murder  in  it, 
which  was  now  floating  through  the  palms  and 
orange-trees  of  this  fairy  fete. 

She  was  fighting  against  some  weakness,  for  she 
staggered  and  caught  Sacha's  arm,  and  he  led  her 
from  the  dance. 

She  began  on  his  arm  to  move  up  nearer  the  czar. 
I  saw  by  her  look  determination  to  conquer  the  lan- 
guor creeping  over  her  till  she  did  her  work. 

She  would  wait  for  no  presentation  now. 

I  followed  hurriedly   after  her,  and  whispered  to 


1/6  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

Sacha :  "  My  wife  is  ill.  I  know  what  to  do  with 
her." 

She  staggered  back  into  my  arms. 

Then,  like  a  flash,  she  drew  herself  up,  made  half 
a  dozen  steps,  trying  to  force  herself  through  the 
crush  nearer  to  the  emperor,  and  her  hand  went  to 
the  pocket  of  h^r  panier. 

But  I  was  too  quick  for  her  ;  my  grasp  was  on  her 
wrist. 

She  struggled,  and  turned  upon  me  one  glance  of 
despair  for  opportunity  forever  lost.  One  sighing 
moan — the  drug  conquered  her  will,  and  she  went 
to  sleep  in  my  arms — within  twenty  feet  of  the 
autocrat  she  would  have  slain ! 


BOOK    III. 

Dissolving  the  Bonds. 


CHAPTER  XHI. 

THE   MASSAGE   OF   HATE. 


There  was  a  little  flutter  about  us,  and  kindly 
women's  lips  murmured :  "  The  beautiful  American 
has  fainted  ;  "  and  willing  masculine  arms  were  out- 
stretched to  help  me  bear  my  lovely  wife  from  the 
room. 

But  with  the  strength  born  of  nervous  tension  I 
picked  her  up,  all  by  myself,  and  disregarding  the 
offers  of  assistance  that  Sacha  almost  forced  upon 
me,  I  elbowed  my  way  through  the  crush  of  uni- 
forms and  ball-dresses  to  a  buffet^  the  one  almost  at 
the  head  of  the  grand  staircase.  Here  Sacha  whis- 
pered to  me,  with  tears  in  his  eyes — for  these  Mus- 
covites are  very  impressionable — "  My  God  !  She  is 
not  dead  ?  She  exerted  herself  too  much  dancing. 
Such  grace,  such  power,  such  dan,  such  beauty 
will  never  be  seen  on  ball-room  floor  again  ! "  and 
wrung  his  hands  over  her  ;  while  I,  remembering  the 
injunction  of  the  chemist,  called  hastily  to  a  waiter 
for  coffee. 

12 


178  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

It  was  brought  me,  hot,  strong,  black,  and  potent, 
as  it  always  is  in  this  country,  and  forcing  open  her 
pearly  teeth,  that  were  convulsively  clinched,  I  poured 
this  down  her  throat,  careless  of  the  stains  and 
splashes  that  dropped  upon  the  white,  shimmering 
silk  and  laces  and  gauze  of  her  ball-dress,  as  she 
struggled  in  my  arms. 

As  I  did  this,  Baron  Friedrich  spoke  in  my  ear  : 
"  My  dear  Lenox,  is  your  wife  very  ill  ?  " 

*'  No,"  I  replied.  "  This  sometimes  happens  to  her 
when  she  dances  too  much ;  "  and  looking  at  the  fairy 
waist  before  me  I  libelled  it,  as  I  muttered:  "She 
will  lace  herself  so  infernally  tight  !  " 

*'  Ah!  "  remarked  Baron  Friedrich, ''  grandmamma 
should  not  dance  the  mazurka  so  vigorously.  What 
wonderful  vigor  at  her  age  !  "  then  went  on:  "The 
court  physician  will  be  here  in  a  moment,  by  the 
czar's  orders.  I  will  bring  him  to  you,"  and  stepped 
away  on  his  friendly  errand. 

No  physician  must  see  her!  The  trained  medical 
eye  would  detect  symptoms  of  opium.  There  might 
be  an  investigation.    Suspicion  meant  ruin. 

I  hastily  sent  one  attendant  for  madame's  wraps, 
another  to  call  my  carriage. 

Then  carefully  cloaking  her,  I  took  Helene  in  my 
arms,  carried  her  down  the  marble  stairs,  stepped 
into  my  equipage,  and  grinned  in  the  pursuing 
Sacha's  face  in  triumph  as  I  drove  off. 

This  grin  did  not  last  long.  As  I  slipped  the  tiny 
revolver,  with  its  six  little  pellets  intended  for  the 
czar,  from  Helene's  pocket  to  my  own,  the  hoarse 
breathing  of  the  opium  sleep  came  to  me  from  my 
charge.     I   seized   her  in  my  arms,  and  with  kisses, 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  1 79 

caresses,  and  burning  words,  begged  her  to  come 
back  to  life  for  my  sake. 

My  Heaven,  if  I  had  given  her  an  over-dose!  If 
she  never  came  to  Hfe !  This  meant  police  investi- 
gation, discovery,  ruin! 

As  this  flashed  through  me,  I  tossed  my  lovely 
patient  about  vigorously,  for  I  knew  that  exercise — 
enforced,  vivacious,  and  savage — was  one  of  the  reme- 
dies for  the  opium  slumber ;  but  she  still  slept  on,  her 
breath  still  came  in  long-drawn  gasps. 

In  an  instant,  with  one  quick  cut  of  my  penknife, 
I  had  slashed  the  bodice  of  her  robe  from  waist  to 
shoulder,  and  cut  the  lacings  of  her  corsage  to  give 
her  air.  Then  heedless  of  her  entrancing  deshabille, 
I  slapped  her  pretty  arms  and  dimpled  shoulders, 
and  shook  her  till  her  teeth  rattled  like  pearly  casta- 
nets, and  so  got  her  to  the  hotel,  the  opium  still 
holding  sway  over  her. 

Here  being  let  in  by  a  sleepy  dvornik,  I  desper- 
ately carried  her  up-stairs,  afraid  to  call  medical  aid  ; 
for  what  reason  could  I  have  given  for  administer- 
ing a  narcotic  to  my  wife  as  she  danced  before  the 
czar? 

Then  I  let  myself  into  my  apartments  silently  and 
quietly  with  my  latch-key — to  get  another  sensation. 

I  had  dropped  Helene  upon  the  first  chair  I  had 
come  to  in  my  salon,  and  was  searching  for  a  match, 
the  room  still  dark,  when  suddenly  I  heard  a  light 
step  upon  the  floor.  Some  one  was  steaUng  out  of 
my  apartments  in  the  gloom,  hoping  to  escape  un- 
perceived. 

Under  the  circumstances  I  dared  make  no  alarm, 
but  still  must  know  whether  it  was  thief  or  spy. 


l80  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

I  whisked  out  Helene's  revolver,  strode  to  the 
door,  and  pinned  the  silent  intruder  by  the  throat, 
my  pistol  pressed  against  his  forehead.  ''  Now," 
whispered  I,  '*  light  a  candle  or  I  will  blow^  out  your 
brains."    I  led  the  silent  one  to  the  table. 

He  obeyed  me. 

I  staggered  back,  for  I  was  gazing  into  the  dark 
eyes  of  the  De  Launay,  the  Weletskys'  governess. 

In  times  of  intense  excitement  I  am  very  cool. 
I  stepped  to  the  door,  locked  it,  and  pocketed  the 
key.  "  Now,"  said  I,  promptly,  "  my  wife  is  very 
sick.  She  over-exerted  herself  at  the  dance  this 
evening.  She  has  heart  disease.  First  I  will  give 
her  her  medicine." 

Then  slipping  into  my  chamber,  I  took  the  vial  of 
belladonna  and  administered  it  as  the  chemist  had 
directed.  I  noted  a  beneficial  effect  immediately  ; 
the  pupils  of  Helene's  eyes  expanded.  ''Now,"  I 
said  to  the  Frenchwoman,  "  you  must  help  me  give 
her  air  and  revive  her  circulation.  Quick !  get  her 
into  her  bedroom  at  once.  If  you  expect  mercy 
from  me,  do  as  I  bid  you  !  " 

My  extraordinary  calmness  of  manner  overawed 
Mademoiselle  Eugenie.  She  followed  my  instruc- 
tions. While  doing  this  I  whispered  to  the  De 
Launay  :  "  You  came  here  as  a  thief — a  bur- 
glar!" 

"  No  !  "  she  cried  indignantly. 

"  Ah,"  replied  I,  smilingly,  "  you  can  prove  that — 
found  in  the  dead  of  night  in  our  apartments  !  " 

For  answer  the  Frenchwoman  wrung  her  hands. 

"  Now,"  I  said,  "  I  can  tell  you  what  you  are. 
You  are  a  spy  of  the  secret  police.     You  need  not 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  l8l 

be  afraid  to  answer;  she  cannot  hear  you."  I  looked 
at  Helene,  who  was  tottering  between  us,  as  we  half 
supported,  half  carried  her  into  her  chamber. 

*'  Yes,"  sighed  the  Frenchwoman. 

"  You  are  a  spy  of  the  police,"  I  went  on,  "  yet 
you  dared  to  come  here  without  Baron  Friedrich's 
orders!"  I  said  this  confidently,  for  I  knew  no 
suspicion  rested  upon  my  wife  or  myself.  *'  You 
came  here  on  your  own  account  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  gasped ;  then  suddenly  and  desper- 
ately she  cried  out  :  "I  came  here  for  myself!  I 
came  here  to  find  some  letter  for  her  " — she  glared 
at  our  patient — "  some  token  from  the  man  who 
swears  he  loves  me,  to  prove  to  him  that  he  is  lying 
to  me ;  that,  despite  his  words,  he  is  infatuated  with 
this  beautiful  American — your  wife  !  " 

"  Now,"  I  said,  ''  we  understand  each  other.  As 
his  mistress  you  wish  to  stop  Sacha's  attempted 
intrigue  with  my  wife.  As  her  husband  I  wish  to 
defeat  it  also.  Help  me  revive  her,  that  I  may 
carry  her  away  from  him  as  soon  as  she  has  strength 
to  travel." 

"Why  should  I  aid  you  make  my  rival  well?" 
whispered  the  Frenchwoman,  savagely.  *'  If  she 
dies  I  am  safer  than  if  she  lives." 

"  Because,"  said  I,  shortly,  "  if  you  do  not  do 
exactly  as  I  say  I  will  report  you  to  the  police  as  a 
thief — as  a  burglar.  You  obtained  admission  here 
as  a  government  spy,  otherwise  the  hotel  would  not 
have  winked  at  your  entering  our  apartments;  but 
you  had  no  orders  from  Baron  Friedrich,  and  he 
will  punish  you  for  daring  to  use  the  name  of  his 
department  for  your  own  private  ends." 


1 82  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

I  said  this  very  firmly,  as  I  knew  she  could  have 
discovered  nothing  suspicious  or  incriminating  in 
my  wife's  apartments  or  baggage. 

My  confidence  frightened  her.  Mademoiselle 
Eugenie  shuddered,  and  w^iispered  :  "  I  will  do  as 
you  order." 

"  Then,"  cried  I,  "  keep  this  lady  moving.  Force 
vitality  to  her  heart  and  circulation  to  her  limbs  ! 
Massage  her  as  if  your  own  life  depended  upon  it ; 
slap  her,  shake  her,  force  her  to  move  about !  A 
little  roughness  will  do  her  good." 

Encouraged  by  my  orders,  the  Frenchwoman  fell 
upon  her  rival,  giving  her  a  vindictive  massage  that 
would  have  astonished  the  most  relentless  torturer 
of  a  Turkish  bath. 

Her  slaps  were  rough  and  sounding,  and  her  shak- 
ings were  so  vigorous,  so  potential,  that,  under  them, 
Helene  began  to  gasp  and  sigh  and  struggle,  almost 
fighting  with  desperate  resistance,  and  begging  her 
to  let  her  sleep — to  let  her  rest — to  give  her  mercy. 
Ah,  what  a  beautiful  sight  it  was — this  massage  of 
hate  ! — the  struggles  of  the  lovely  victim,  the  silks 
and  laces  of  her  disordered  ball-dress  half  falling 
from  her  enchanting  figure,  the  rage  and  vigor  of 
her  rival,  whose  savage  rage  was  giving  to  Helene 
renewed  life  and  reason. 

During  this,  I  stepped  into  the  outer  apartment, 
rang  the  bell,  and,  on  its  being  answered,  ordered 
some  coffee  made  immediately,  and  sent  up  to  the 
room,  strong  as  possible.  It  was  early  morning  now, 
and  the  domestics  of  the  house  ready  for  duty,  so  I 
very  shortly  received  this  ;  and  returning  to  the  bed- 
room noticed,  with  grim  satisfaction,  that  Mademoi- 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 83 

selle  de  Launay  was  still  doing  her  duty — fero- 
ciously, and  with  good  effects. 

Then  we  poured  the  coffee  down  the  patient's 
throat.  Its  effect  was  immediate.  Helene's  eyes 
began  to  have  sentiency  in  them,  their  pupils  became 
more  normal.  One  awful,  reproachful  look  told  me 
she  knew  what  had  happened. 

My  heavens,  she  was  about  to  speak  I 

I  desperately  motioned  the  Frenchwoman  from 
the  apartment. 

She  hesitated. 

I  seized  her  by  the  shoulder  and  forced  her  across 
the  parlor  into  my  bedroom,  where  I  locked  the  door 
on  her.  From  there  I  knew  she  could  not  escape 
to  hear  any  words  that  passed  between  myself  and 
the  woman  whose  last  thought  was  that  she  would 
kill  the  czar,  and  whose  first  words  would  doubtless 
mention  it. 

I  returned  to  Helene  ;  still  the  awful,  reproach- 
ful glance  was  in  her  eyes.  She  staggered  to  me 
and  muttered  :  ''  You  miserable  one  !  You  have 
destroyed  a  country's  chance  of  liberty." 

"  My  dear,"  said  I,  "  the  chance  of  liberty  in- 
volved the  certainty  of  my  death.  I  am  not  anxious 
to  commit  suicide." 

''  What  does  your  ignoble  life  weigh  against  the 
freedom  of  ninety  millions?"  she  whispered.  A 
new  and  baneful  light  came  into  her  eyes.  She 
cried  :  ''  Oh,  how  I  hate  you  !  "  then  fell  deathly 
sick. 

I  forced  her  to  take  more  coffee,  a  little  more  of 
the  belladonna,  and  then  left  her,  for  I  knew  she 
was  sufficiently  recovered  to  keep  her  tongue  very 


1 84  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

quiet  to  all  others  about  this  affair,  no  matter  what 
she  might  say  to  me. 

I  then  unlocked  the  door  of  my  bedroom,  to 
behold  the  De  Launay,  frightened  and  drooping. 
She  cried  :  **  Let  me  go  !     I  must  go  home  now  !" 

"  First,  a  few  questions,"  said  I,  *'  and  next  a  little 
compact  between  us." 

"No!  no!  I  cannot  stay.  If  the  Weletskys 
discover  my  absence  I  will  lose  my  situation  ;  for 
which  I  shall  incur  the  displeasure  of  Baron  Fried- 
rich,  who  placed  me  there." 

"  Why  did  he  place  you  at  the  Weletskys'  ?  " 

She  hesitated. 

''  Answer  !  "  cried  I. 

''  It  was  at  Madam.e  Palitzin's  request,  I  believe. 
She  wished  for  evidence  of  Sacha's  faithlessness  to 
hlsjiancce.  I  watched  him,  and  grew  to  love  him  ; 
he  is  so  fascinating,  so  winning,  that — "  She  wrung 
her  hands,  and  I  interjected  grimly  : 

"You  could  give  Baron  Friedrich  all  the  evidence 
he  wanted  from  your  own  experience." 

To  this  she  cried  shortly  :  "  Don't  keep  me  !  I 
cannot  remain  longer." 

And  I  said :  "  First  a  little  compact  between  us. 
If  I  permit  you  to  go  away  without  reporting  to  the 
police  that  you  have  broken  into  my  rooms  at  7zt£-/it, 
you  will  notify  me  of  any  suspicious  movement  on 
the  part  of  Sacha  as  directed  against  the  honor  of 
my  wife  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  cried  desperately ;  "  for  your  sake  as 
well  as  my  own  !  " 

Then  I  unlocked  the  door  and  let  her  go.  I 
stepped  back  to  Helene's  apartments,  and  found  her 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 85 

still  sick,  with  deadly  nausea  and  gasping,  but  sen- 
sible and  vindictive.  I  blessed  this,  for  I  knew  that 
the  power  of  the  opium  drug  had  been  broken  by 
the  Frenchwoman's  massage  of  hate. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE    RAT-TRAP    CLOSES. 

Then  I  sank  down ;  the  nervous,  mental,  and 
physical  strain  of  this  extraordinary  night  had 
exhausted  me. 

However,  I  am  endowed  with  a  wonderful  whale- 
bone elasticity  of  both  muscle  and  brain.  I  swal- 
lowed a  few  brandies  ;  took  a  cool  sponge  bath,  and, 
making  my  toilet  for  the  day,  was  ready  for  its 
embarrassments  and  dangers. 

Over  my  breakfast  I  outlined  my  plan  of  action. 
It  was  simple — as  soon  as  Helene  was  well  enough  to 
travel,  to  take  her  out  of  Russia.  I  dared  not  go  by 
myself.  My  wife's  illness  had  been  so  public  that 
for  me  to  leave  her  now  would  produce  general 
comment,  perhaps  suspicion. 

I  went  in  to  look  at  my  patient.  She  was  sleep- 
ing, but  her  slumber  was  that  of  exhaustion,  not  of 
the  opium-joint.  As  I  looked  on  her  pale  beauty,  I 
noted,  with  a  sinking  heart,  she  was  certainly  too  ill 
to  leave  her  bed  this  day.  But  on  the  morrow  she 
must  depart  with  me ;  nothing  but  madness  could 
permit  further  stay. 

I  came  out  into  my  parlor  to  encounter  numerous 
cards  of  inquiry  and  personal  calls,  all  expressing 


1 86  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

their  concern  for  the  health  of  the  lady  whose 
beauty  and  grace  had  made  such  a  sensation  at  the 
ball  of  the  night  before. 

Among  the  first  of  these  were  Constantine  and 
his  wife.  They  had  left  Xh^fetc  before  the  mazurka, 
and  had  only  heard  this  morning  of  Madame  Lenox's 
illness.  With  them  also  came  the  Princess  Palit- 
zin.  To  all  visitors  I  answered  that  my  wife  was 
troubled  with  a  slight  but  not  dangerous  affection  of 
the  heart.  She  had  overexerted  herself  in  the  dance, 
but  would  be  perfectly  well  by  the  morrow,  when 
we  purposed  leaving  St.  Petersburg.  At  present 
she  was  too  exhausted  to  see  any  one. 

Present  inquiries  being  answered,  I  stopped  future 
ones  by  sending  the  above  information  to  the  office 
of  the  hotel,  adding  that  we  were  at  home  to  no 
one. 

Then  I  got  time  to  remember  that  every  hour 
I  stayed  here  added  to  my  peril.  Letters  might 
arrive  from  my  wife  in  Paris ;  my  daughter  might 
disregard  my  injunctions  and  innocently  come  to 
St.  Petersburg  to  betray  me. 

I  hurriedly  went  to  the  American  Legation. 

There  I  received  a  short  note  from  Marguerite 
reproaching  me  for  not  permitting  her  to  come  to 
St.  Petersburg  while  I  was  there,  but  said  she  would 
obey  my  injunctions  as  telegraphed  until  she  heard 
from  me  by  letter. 

This  disposed  of  any  immediate  chance  of  dis- 
covery. I  went  back  to  the  hotel  in  easier  mind. 
As  I  passed  through  the  office  on  my  return  I  saw 
Baron  Friedrich.  He  cried  :  "  I  have  been  inquiring 
after   madame's   health,   my  dear  colonel,   and  am 


MY   OFFICIAL    WIFE.  1 87 

delighted  to  hear  that  she  is  so  much  better,  though 
not  well  enough  for  travel." 

*'  No,"  I  replied,  *'  we  go  to-morrow." 

*'  Direct  to  Paris  ?  "  he  said,  with  a  playful  empha- 
sis on  the  "  Paris  "  that  frightened  me. 

As  I  passed  to  my  apartments  I  cogitated  :  "  Could 
he  mean  anything  by  that  ?  Pshaw!  It  was  only 
my  nerves  !  " 

Then  I  threw  myself  on  a  sofa  and  went  to  sleep. 
It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  almost  evening,  when 
I  awoke.  Delightful  !  Insensibility  has  given  me 
strength  and  destroyed  eight  hours  of  suspense. 

How  was  my  patient?  I  tapped  on  her  door,  and 
received  a  low  answer  permitting  my  entrance. 

"I  am  about  to  order  dinner;  you  had  better 
join  me,  little  girl  I  "  said  I,  in  a  cheery  voice. 

To  this  she  shook  her  head  sadly. 

"Think  better  of  it  !  "  cried  I,  assuming  a  light- 
ness I  did  not  feel,  in  order  to  raise  her  spirits. 
''  Official  hubby  will  be  lonely  !  "  And  would  have 
patted  her  pale  cheek,  but  she  gave  me  a  stab  with 
her  eyes  and  muttered  :  ''  You  miserable  !  " 

So  I  went  to  a  solo  dinner. 

I  was  just  contentedly  finishing  my  dessert,  for  I 
am  a  man  whose  appetite  it  is  difficult  to  disturb 
save  by  lack  of  provisions,  when  there  came  a  rap 
upon  the  parlor  door,  and  thinking  it  was  the 
waiter,  I  cried  :  "  Come  in  !  " 

To  my  chagrin  Major  Sacha  Weletsky  made  his 
appearance.  He  cried  out  savagely:  "  I  have  called 
four  times  and  have  been  told  that  madame  could 
not  see  anybody.  I  am  too  anxious  to  remain  out- 
side your  door."    Then  he  broke  out  volubly  :  ''How 


I  88  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

is  she?  She  is  better,  I  know;  but  has  she  recov- 
ered ?  Is  she  well  enough  to  see  one  who  is  devoted 
to  her  both  by  relationship  and  by  good-will  ?  " 

I  was  about  answering  that  she  was  not,  when 
to  my  astonishment  Helene's  door  opened  and  she 
came  out,  with  trembling  steps,  but  looking  wonder- 
fully fresh  and  charming  in  the  7iegligee  of  an  invalid. 
She  said  pointedly:  *' A  friend's  voice  is  so  pleasant 
that  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  come  to 
it — my  dear  Sacha." 

Before  I  could  spring  up  from  the  table,  my  rival 
had  got  his  arm  about  her  and  supported  her  ten- 
derly and  carefully  to  an  arm-chair. 

At  this  I  determined  to  play  the  husband. 
"  Very  well,  Helene,"  said  I.  "You  can  have  ten 
minutes  with  your  cousin — but  no  more.  Sacha  can 
see  you  are  not  strong  enough  to  remain  up  any 
longer."  Then  I  amused  myself  with  a  newspaper. 
I  don't  know  what  it  contained  ;  I  only  appeared  to 
read  it. 

What  they  were  saying  I  could  not  catch,  for  the 
guardsman  had  drawn  his  chair  very  close  to  the 
invalid's.  Their  conversation,  however,  seemed  to 
be  pleasing  to  them,  for  when  I  looked  at  my  watch 
and  cried,  "  Time's  up  !  "  I  saw  rebellion  in  the  lady's 
eye  and  rage  in  the  gentleman's  optics. 

"  As  both  your  doctor  and  your  husband,  my  dear, 
I  must  insist,"  said  I,  blandly,  for  I  knew  I  had  them 
both  on  the  hip.  Sacha  could  not  object  to  my 
tender  solicitude  for  my  wife's  health,  and  Helene 
dared  not  tell  him  I  w^as  not  her  husband.  So  I 
calmly  got  up,  and  despite  pouts  and  entreaties  on 
her  part  and  savage  glances  upon  his,  I  almost  by 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  1 89 

force  led  Helene  from  the  room,  saying  tenderly: 
*'  To-morrow  morning,  when  you  are  stronger,  my 
pet,  you  may  talk  longer  with  Cousin  Sacha." 

Then  I  closed  the  door  upon  her  and  stood  face 
to  face  with  my  rival,  v/ho  was  pulling  his  mus- 
tachios  in  a  very  surly  manner. 

"What  a  tyrant  you  are  to  your  wife,"  he  re- 
marked. 

*'  So  would  you  be,  my  dear  major,  if  you  had  as 
handsome  a  spouse,"  said  I.  ''  You  would  look  after 
her  health  carefully  also." 

Then  I  rang  the  bell  and  ordered  some  tea  and 
toast  for  my  invalid,  whom  I  remarked  was  about  to 
retire.  So  the  usages  of  society  compelled  Sacha 
to  take  his  leave,  and  I,  throwing  a  Parthian  glance 
at  him,  thought  there  was  some  advantage  in  being 
even  an  official  husband.  The  refreshments  hav- 
ing been  brought  to  me,  I  took  them  in  to  my 
charge,  who  was  reclining  on  a  sofa,  her  ten  min- 
utes' conversation  having  exhausted  her.  She  shook 
her  head  as  I  offered  them  to  her. 

''  I  insist,"  said  I.  "  You  need  strength  for  to- 
morrow's travel." 

Then  a  sudden  fire  came  into  her  eyes,  and  in- 
dignation to  her  voice;  she  rose  up  and  cried:  "Of 
which  your  vile  drug  has  robbed  me  ! " 

"That  was  to  save  my  life." 

"  To  save  Ji'is!  "  she  broke  out — "  he  whom  I  had 
at  my  mercy ;  whom  in  another  minute  I  would 
have  struck  a  blow  that  would  have  given  Russia 
perhaps  freedom  ;  a  blow  for  the  v/ronged,  the  op- 
pressed, the  down-trodden  under  the  heel  of  this 
tvrant." 


IQO  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

''My  dear  Helene,"  said  I,  lightly,  "you  speak 
like  a  Pole  or  a  Jewess  !  " 

Then  she  astounded  me,  for  she  cried,  **  I  AM 
BOTH   !  " 

"  What  ?  "  I  gasped. 

"Yes,"  she  repeated.  **  A  Pole — by  my  father's 
blood  !     A  Jewess — by  my  mother's  wrongs  !  " 

Then  she  went  on  more  calmly :  "  I  do  not  wish 
to  be  misjudged  even  by  you  ;  you  think  I  have  the 
heart  of  a  murderess.  Listen  to  my  justification  !  " 
And  her  face  became  sad,  and  her  eyes  pathetic,  and 
her  lips  trembling  as  she  whispered : 

"  My  father  was  a  Polish  noble,  one  of  the  class 
which  he  whom  I  would  have  executed  last  night, 
and  his  ancestors,  have  been  trying  to  destroy  as 
they  have  destroyed  my  own  native  land — annihi- 
lated Poland.  My  mother  was  a  Jewess,  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  banker  in  Warsaw  ;  despite  the  difference 
of  rank  and  race,  my  father  loved  my  mother  well 
enough  to  marry  her.  For  daring  to  mate  with  a 
despised  Jewess,  the  Russian  government,  glad  of 
the  opportunity,  ordered  his  name  stricken  from  the 
list  of  Polish  nobility,  declared  the  marriage  illegal, 
and  made  me,  its  offspring,  illegitimate.  Then 
came  the  uprising  in  '63  and  '64.  My  father,  mad- 
dened by  his  wrongs,  fought  in  the  insurgents'  ranks, 
and  when  the  patriot  bands  were  crushed,  my 
mother  refused  to  give  up  the  secret  of  his  hiding- 
place.  For  this,  my  God  !  she — my  mother,  do  you 
hear  me,  insensate  American? — my  own  loved 
mother  was  condemned  to  the  knout  and  banished 
to  Siberia,  though  she  never  reached  there ;  she 
killed  herself  rather  than  be  a  prey  to  the  Cossacks 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I9I 

on  the  route.  Thank  God,  my  father  never  heard 
the  horrors  done  his  loved  one,  for  he  was  butchered 
in  a  burning  village  the  day  of  my  mother's  scourg- 
ing in  the  market-place  at  Warsaw.  I  see  by  your 
face  it  is  hard  to  believe  in  such  monstrous  bar- 
barity to  a  woman;  but  read  the  records  of  Poland 
in  '63  and  '64,  and  you  will  find  such  horrors  were 
done  not  only  to  me  and  mine,  but  to  a  people. 

*'  I  was  a  baby  at  the  time,  and  that  saved  me.  My 
mother's  relatives  are  rich.  I  was  taken  to  America 
by  an  uncle ;  then  returned  to  Austria,  where  I  fin- 
ished my  education  and  heard  the  tale  of  my  kindred 
who  had  been  exterminated  ;  and  now,  when  my  race 
is  again  oppressed,  despoiled,  and  driven  forth  naked 
from  their  homes,  why  should  I  have  mercy  on  him  ?  " 

"Because,"  said  I,  ''Alexander  is  not  personally 
responsible " 

"  Not  personally  responsible  ?  "  she  cried.  "  He 
is  the  head  of  the  system!  If  you  hear  of  a  min- 
ister assassinated  in  Bulgaria,  a  prince  kidnapped 
from  Belgrade,  an  insurrection  fomented  in  Afghan- 
istan, though  his  own  hand  does  it  not,  this  poten- 
tate of  Russia  is  the  official  head  of  the  government 
that  is  its  instigator.  He  has  no  mercy  ;  why  should 
he  expect  mercy  ?  Your  hand  parried  the  arm  of 
Justice  because  you  feared  for  your  own  ignoble 
life.     For  this  I  will  never  forgive  you  !  " 

"My  Heaven,  Helene!"  cried  I,  "  do  you  hate 
me  for  the  instincts  of  self-preservation?" 

"Then  you  had  better  exert  them  to  get  us  both 
out  of  Russia,"  she  said,  with  a  sneer  in  her  voice; 
"  for  if  the  true  facts  of  last  night's  ball  are  ever 
guessed,    my   fate    will    be     as    cruel    as    my  poor 


192  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

mother's,  only  it  will  be  secret — not  public.  The 
Russian  Government  has  learned,  from  the  horror  of 
the  civilized  world,  that  private  torment  is  equally- 
potent,  and  better  policy.  Your  fate,  my  gallant 
Arthur,  will  be  equally " 

''You  need  not  discuss  my  fate,"  I  interrupted, 
with  a  shudder.     "  We  leave  to-morrow." 

"  Of  course.  You  will  find  me  ready.  That  is 
best  for  both  of  us.  I  shall  have  no  other  oppor- 
tunity.    Oh,  if  you  had  not  stayed  me  !  " 

She  wrung  her  hands  despairingly,  then  sobbed  ; 

*'  He  would  have  been  dead  by  this  time ;  and 
I — "    The  fire  of  martyrdom  beamed  in  her  eyes. 

She  turned  upon  me,  her  eyes  blazing  contempt- 
uous scorn,  and  cried  ;  "  Away  !  don't  let  me  look 
on  your  face.  You  slave,  who  feared  to  die  for 
liberty !  " 

When  a  woman  gets  into  this  peculiar  mood  of 
hysterical  beatitudes,  the  best  thing  to  do  is  to 
leave  her  to  enjoy  them  alone. 

I  stepped  from  her  presence  and  went  out  and 
paced  the  streets ;  bought  more  powders,  came 
home  at  midnight,  took  only  one,  this  time  direct- 
ing them  to  call  me  at  eight  o'clock,  and  forgot  my 
cares. 

The  next  morning,  early  as  I  was,  Helene  was  at 
the  breakfast-table  before  me — bright,  chatty,  beau- 
tiful. She  seemed  to  have  forgotten  she  was  a  con- 
spirator, and  exclaimed,  "  Look  at  my  flowers !  '* 
pointing  to  a  number  of  farewell  offerings.  Upon 
one  of  them  I  noticed  Sacha's  card. 

"  The  poor  fellow,"  she  said,  smiling,  "  begged  to 
come  and   make   his   adieux   at  the   station  ;  but  I 


MV    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I93 

feared  our  last  meeting  would  affect  him  too  greatly, 
so  I  forbade  him." 

I  answered  nothing  to  this,  being  busy  in  making 
our  final  preparations  for  departure.  Helene's 
trunks  were  nearly  ready,  and  she  accepted  my 
assistance  in  the  final  locking  and  strapping.  For 
even  this  day  she  was  far  from  strong. 

So  at  twelve  o'clock,  with  thirty  minutes  to  spare, 
we  rattled  off  for  the  Warsaw  station.  Half  an  hour 
and  we  were  in  the  crowds  of  carriages  about  it. 
The  rush  of  people  coming  and  going,  all  gave 
buoyancy  to  my  spirits.  I  chuckled  to  myself  that 
I  had  seen  the  last  of  Baron  Friedrich,  as  I  pushed 
my  way  to  the  ticket  ofifice  and  called  upon  the 
German  clerk  at  the  window  for  two  tickets  for  Ber- 
lin, via  Eydtkuhnen. 

"Your  passport  number?"  asked  he,  shortly,  in 
the  hurry  of  business. 

''No.  7,287." 

He  looked  at  the  list  before  him  and  rubbed  his 
spectacles  once  or  twice  (every  German  in  Russia 
seems  to  wear  glasses),  and  replied  :  "  There  is 
some  mistake,  I  fear.  I  have  received  orders  not  to 
issue  tickets  on  passport  No.  7,287." 

''  A-ah  !  "  This  was  a  gulp  from  me.  Then  I 
said  desperately :  *'  This  passport,  No.  7,287,  was 
only  issued  two  days  ago.  You  must  have  made  an 
error — 7-2-8-7." 

*'  That  is  the  number.  There  is  probably  an  error 
somewhere,  but  it  will  be  impossible  to  issue  on  that 
passport  until  further  orders.  You  had  better  apply 
at  the  Bureau  of  the  Interior  for  correction  of  same. 
—Next  !  " 
13 


194  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

This  was  addressed  to  a  German  woman  with  two 
children,  who  came  crowding  immediately  behind 
me. 

Somehow  I  got  back  to  Helene  without  fainting; 
but  there  was  a  lump  of  ice  in  my  breast  where  my 
heart  had  been,  and  my  steps  didn't  seem  to  quite 
reach  the  tiled  floor.  She  asked  me  no  question. 
She  only  looked  at  my  face,  and  hers  grew  white 
and  pallid  also. 

''  Come  with  me,"  she  whispered.  I  drew  her  out 
of  the  crush,  away  from  listening  ears,  and  she 
said:  "  Speak  low ;  we  are  probably  already  under 
espionage.  They  refused  you  tickets  on  the  pass- 
port ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  what  shall  we  do  ?  " 

"Act  as  if  you  are  sure  it  is  a  mistake.  Go  up 
and  demand  tickets  again.  Stay,  I'll  do  it  for  you." 
She  stepped  up  to  the  ticket  office,  and  I  could  see 
she  gave  the  German  in  charge  a  talking  to  that 
made  him  open  his  blue  eyes.  Then  she  came  back 
to  me  and  whispered :  "  Send  our  baggage  to  the 
hotel.  We  must  conduct  ourselves  as  if  we  were 
simply  enraged  at  a  foolish  railroad  blunder." 

I  ordered  the  baggage  back,  and,  calling  a  carriage, 
said  hoarsely,  "  The  Hotel  de  I'Europe." 

Then  I  put  her  in,  and  we  drove  off.  After  a 
moment  I  whispered  :  "  You  surely  did  not  expect 
to  get  the  tickets?" 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  Helene,  lightly,  though  I 
could  see  that  her  little  gloved  hand  was  trembling. 
"  But  I  made  every  spy  about  that  railway  office 
think  it  was  a  mistake,  and  that  we  should  have  had 
them." 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  I95 

"  You  think  it  best  we  return  to  the  hotel?  "  said 
I ;  for  I  had  a  wild  idea  that  she  would  suddenly 
get  out  of  the  cab  and  bolt,  with  me  or  without  me, 
for  some  nihilist  haunt. 

"  Certainly.  Where  else  are  we  to  go  ?  If  we  are 
suspected — there  are  spies  about  us  now — we  could 
never  escape  from  them  by  daylight.  If  not,  the 
appearance  of  innocence  is  our  trump  card." 

"You  think,  then,  this  refusal  of  tickets  on  our 
passport  is  a  mistake?"  asked  I,  a  sudden  hope 
making  my  heart  jump. 

Her  answer  made  it  lead  again. 

"  No,"  she  whispered,  with  luminous  eyes  that 
seemed  to  be  seeing  something  that  was  indefinite 
but  horrible,  though  her  lips  were  firmer  now  :  ''  I 
think  the  rat-trap  is  closed  on  us — that  it  means 
DEATH  !  "  Then  she  muttered,  "  Forgive  me,  Arthur, 
for  having  ruined  you,"  and  fell  sobbing  into  my 
arms. 

But  I  did  not  seem  to  wish  to  kiss  her  any  more. 
How  passion  disappears,  when  death  lays  its  hand 
on  you  ! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

WHICH    BROTHER? 

We  were  almost  at  the  De  1' Europe.  She  recov- 
ered herself  and  said  suddenly  :  "  To  play  out  our 
roles  we  must  appear  happy,  light-hearted,  undis- 
mayed ;  "  then  smilingly  bowed  to  an  introduction 
of  the  Ignatief's  ball,  who   passed  us  on  the  street. 

We   rolled   into  the   courtyard  of   the  hotel,  and. 


196  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

taking  my  companion  on  my  arm,  I  strolled  up  to 
the  office  and  cried  lightly,  "  You  see  you  did  not 
get  rid  of  us  so  easily." 

"  Ah  !  you  did  not  go  ? "  said  the  clerk,  laying 
down  his  pen. 

"  There  was  some  careless  error  about  our  pass- 
port," replied  I,  *'  which  may  detain  us  a  day  or  two. 
Perhaps  it  is  better,  after  all,  for  my  wife  is  hardly 
strong  enough  to  travel.  We  will  occupy  the  same 
suite  of  apartments." 

At  this  the  man  answered  suspiciously :  "  It  will 
be  necessary  to  see  the  secretary,"  so  I  followed 
him  to  that  functionary's  private  office,  and  ex- 
plained matters. 

To  my  astonishment,  that  gentleman,  who  had 
been  obsequiously  polite  to  us  before,  appeared 
worried  and  dismayed,  and  said  :  "  Colonel  Lenox, 
you  will  pardon  me  for  speaking  plainly.  It  is  im- 
possible for  us  to  receive  any  one  whose  passport  is 
defective.     The  rules  of  the  police  forbid  that." 

"  Defective  ?  "  cried  I,  forcing  myself  to  indigna- 
tion ;  'Mo  you  call  that  passport  defective  ?  If  you 
do,  I  will  send  for  my  friend,  Baron  Friedrich.  His 
guarantee,  I  presume,  will  be  sufficient  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,"  murmured  the  official.  **  You  will 
excuse  me  for  making  any  difficulty,  but  our  orders 
from  the  police  department  are  imperative." 

He  called  a  boy,  and  by  him  I  sent  two  lines  to  my 
all-powerful  friend,  simply  asking  him  to  come  up  to 
the  De  I'Europe  to  see  me  for  a  moment,  as  soon 
as  possible. 

Then  I  returned  to  Helene.  She  took  my  arm, 
and  I  told  her  what  had  happened.    She  whispered : 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  1 97 

"  When  you  sent  for  Baron  Friedrich  you  did  a 
very  wise  thing.  It  will  show  him  that  we  consider 
ourselves  above  all  doubt." 

Within  half  an  hour  Baron  Friedrich  came  dash- 
ing in,  and  smiled  an  inscrutable  smile  at  us  through 
his  blue  eye-glasses. 

*'  Ah  !  my  dear  Lenox,"  he  cried  effusively  ;  "  and 
madame — she  was  not  well  enough  to  leave  this 
afternoon?"  and  opened  his  eyes  in  astonishment,  I 
thought  a  little  too  wide,  when  I  told  him  of  tickets 
being  refused  on  our  passports. 

*'  Ah  !  some  mistake  of  those  beastly  railway 
clerks.  Passports  pass  through  half  a  dozen  hands, 
and  an  error  by  any  one  destroys  the  whole  routine. 
My  dear  Lenox,  have  no  uneasiness ;  a  day  or  two 
for  red-tape  and  all  will  be  arranged.  Take  good 
care  of  your  beautiful  wife.  It  is,  perhaps,  better 
that  she  does  not  travel  immediately." 

''But,"  laughed  Helene,  with  2i petite  vwiie,  ''they 
won't  let  us  into  our  apartments  on  this  passport 
without  your  guaranteeing  it." 

"  W^hat !  "  he  cried,  indignation  filling  his  fat  little 
frame  as  he  strode  to  the  secretary,  who  cringed 
before  him,  and  gave  him  such  a  rating  as  I  have 
never  heard  outside  Russia  or  Turkey,  where  men 
treat  those  below  them  as  brutes. 

"Take  good  care  of  my  friends,"  he  cried,  ''you 
dog  of  a  hotel-man ;  take  very  good  care  of  my 
friends  ;  the  best  in  the  house  for  them  !  "  Then  he 
turned  to  us,  and  murmured:  "And  now,  my  dear 
Lenox,  I  am  busy.  You  will  enjoy  a  day  or  two 
more  in  St.  Petersburg.  Take  your  wife  to  the 
opera  ;  be  happy  to-night  ;  bonjour  !  "     He  bade  us 


198  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

an  effusive  farewell,  kissing  Helene's  gloved  hand 
several  times,  and  departed. 

We  were  shown  back  by  obsequious  lackeys  to 
our  apartments,  and  our  baggage  being  arranged, 
and  ourselves  alone,  I  whispered  to  Helene:  ''Do 
you  think  he  suspects  us  ?  " 

"I  fear  so,"  replied  Helene.  ''Reappeared  too 
much  surprised."  Then  she  whispered  suddenly  to 
me :  "  Can  you  think  of  anything  that  could  have 
made  him  doubt  me?" 

I  said,  "No,"  but  now  thought  it  best  to  inform 
her  of  my  curious  meeting  with  Mademoiselle  de 
Launay  after  the  ball. 

"  I  don't  think  that  had  anything  to  do  with  it," 
she  replied.  "  That  young  lady  is  simply  jealous  of 
Sacha.  And  you  are  jealous  of  him  also — jealous  of 
a  Russian?"  And  she  commenced  to  laugh  ;  then 
said  pointedly :  "  Perhaps  I  shall  have  use  for  Made- 
moiselle Eugenie  at  the  last,"  and  busied  herself 
unpacking. 

Half  an  hour  after  we  v/ere  broken  in  upon  by 
Sacha  and  the  Princess  Palitzin. 

"  I  went  to  the  train  to  bid  you  adieu,"  replied 
the  major ;  "  and  heard  you  were  not  going — bless 
God  for  His  mercies." 

"And  so,"  interrupted  Madame  Palitzin,  "we 
have  come  to  ask  you  to  go  with  us  to  the  Michael 
Theatre  this  evening.  Amusement  will  be  good  for 
both  of  you  ;  neither  of  you  look  over-happy  !  " 

"  No,"  said  I ;  "playing  nurse  does  not  agree  with 
me." 

"And  the  rdle  of  invalid  is  not  my  forte,''  smiled 
Helene. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  I99 

"  So  it  is  settled,  you  come  ;  I  will  take  no  refusal 
from  my  cousins !  "  cried  Sacha. 

To  this  I  agreed,  for  anything  was  better  than 
this  waiting — waiting — waiting  for  the  hand  to  fall. 

Then  they  went  away;  and  I  would  have  been 
almost  happy  now  had  my  nerves  permitted  it,  in  a 
wild,  nasty,  wicked  way  ;  for  Helene,  who  had  been 
so  cool  to  me  two  days  before,  and  spurned  me,  and 
told  me  she  hated  me  last  night,  was  now  softly 
pathetic,  every  now  and  then  coming  to  me  and 
begging  me  to  forgive  her  for  having  destroyed  my 
life — though  such  requests  were  not  calming  to  my 
nervous  system,  and  I  shuddered  as  I  forgave  her. 

"  I  will  go  to  the  legation  and  see  if  there  are  any 
letters,"  I  said  ;  for  I  felt  under  the  circumstances 
anything  was  better  than  inaction.  "  I  will  return 
in  time  to  take  you  to  the  theatre." 

As  I  was  about  to  step  out  she  called  me  back  to 
her  and  whispered:  "That  revolver  you  deprived 
me  of  the  other  night." 

I  handed  it  silently  to  her.  Her  eyes  answered 
my  question.     She  did  not  mean  to  be  taken  alive. 

Then  I  went  to  the  legation.  No  letters  from 
my  wife.  This  was  curious.  I  should  have  had  one 
by  this  time.  Then  to  the  Yacht  Club,  where  among 
others  I  met  Boris  Weletsky.  We  dined  together. 
Over  dinner,  in  answer  to  his  questions,  I  told  him  I 
should  remain  a  day  or  two  longer  in  St.  Petersburg. 
My  wife  was  hardly  yet  strong  enough  to  travel. 

"  Very  well,"  cried  this  hospitable  young  fellow, 
"then  I  hold  you  to  your  promise.  Bring  madame 
down  to  Cronstadt  to-morrow,  inspect  my  ship  and 
the  forts.      Be  my  guest." 


200  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

I  could  hardly  answer  his  question  without  con- 
sulting Helene,  and  told  him  so. 

"All  right.  After  the  theatre  meet  me  here  and 
let  me  know,"  he  said. 

I  promised  to  do  this,  and  went  straight  to  the 
hotel.  Helene  was  already  dressed  for  the  theatre, 
a  slight  trace  of  color  on  her  cheeks,  that  I  thought 
was  not  natural,  for  the  first  time. 

I  breathlessly  asked  :  "  What  has  happened  ?" 

*'  Since  you  were  away?  Nothing  !  It  is  always 
this  way  till  the  blow  is  struck.  The  more  silent  the 
secret  policos  the  more  deadly.  Between  ourselves," 
she  said,  with  a  slight  smile,  "  I  think  Baron  Fried- 
rich  is  waiting  for  something — some  final  proof — 
before  he  dares  to  put  his  hand  upon  us." 

Then  I  told  her  of  Weletsky's  invitation. 

''  What  do  you  say  to  it }  "  I  asked.  "■  We  might 
as  well  enjoy  our  privileges  while  they  last." 

**  Slip  on  your  dress-suit  and  I  will  consider  and 
answer  you." 

I  went  into  the  next  room,  and  while  engaged  in 
my  toilet  heard  a  little  cry  from  Helene.  It  seemed 
to  be  of  joy.  I  took  a  peep  at  her.  She  was  read- 
ing the  Russian  papers  apparently,  as  I  thought  at 
the  time  examining  the  shipping  list. 

When  I  entered,  ready  for  the  theatre,  a  new 
hope  seemed  to  be  in  her  eyes.  She  put  her  hand 
confidingly  on  my  arm  to  walk  down  to  the  car- 
riage. 

I  said :  "  Have  you  determined  about  this  invita- 
tion to  visit  Cronstadt  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered.  ''  Accept  it  at  once.  Let 
us  go  down  on  an  early  morning  boat." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  20I 

Ten  minutes  after  this  we  were  gazing  from  one 
of  the  boxes  of  the  main  tier  upon  the  performance 
of  **  Girofle  and  Girofla  "  by  a  dashing  French  com- 
pany just  from  Paris,  the  prima  donna  of  which  was 
making  an  enormous  hit,  as  is  usual  in  Russia,  where 
everything  is  a  grand  coup  or  a  great  failure.  The 
face  of  this  artiste  appeared  familiar  to  me. 

Here  we  were  shortly  joined  by  Madame  Palitzin, 
attended  by  the  ubiquitous  Sacha.  He  had  two 
lovely  bouquets  in  his  hand,  and  after  the  generous 
manner  of  the  Russian  race,  tendered  one  of  pale 
La  France  roses  to  the  princess,  the  other,  of  some 
pure  white  flowers  and  buds,  to  my  wife.  Helene 
bent  over  this  a  little  curiously,  I  thought,  and  fierce 
fires  of  jealousy  swept  through  me,  for  I  saw  there 
was  a  letter  concealed  in  the  blossoms. 

As  I  noted  this,  the  theatre  resounded  with  ap- 
plause upon  the  waltz  song  of  Girofle.  "  She  shall 
never  read  it  !  "  I  thought,  and  with  an  instinct  born 
of  the  moment,  I  threw  myself  heart  and  soul  into 
the  ovation  to  the  singer.  I  led  the  applause,  and 
bravoed  stronger  and  wilder  than  the  most  enthu- 
siastic Muscovite  in  the  building.  Then,  as  if  car- 
ried away  by  uncontrollable  admiration,  I  seized  the 
bouquet  from  my  wife's  lap,  and  hurled  it  at  the  feet 
of  the  diva  on  the  stage.  Then  I  suddenly  came  to 
myself,  and  bowed  my  humble  apologies  to  Helene, 
whose  eyes  shot  fiery  glances  upon  me,  though  they 
were  not  half  as  savage  as  those  with  which  the 
major  of  the  Chevalier  Garde  favored  me  from  the 
rear  of  the  box. 

A  few  seconds  after,  while  Sacha  was  occupied 
with    the    princess    in    some   private    conversation, 


202  MV    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Helene  whispered  to  me :  "  Get  that  bouquet  back. 
It  had  a  note  in  it." 

"  His  billet-doux,''  returned  I.     '■'■  Never  !  " 

Upon  which  her  face  grew  very  pale,  and  she 
whispered  to  me  again:  ''Get  the  note  back  into 
my  hands,  as  you  value  your  safety  !  "  Her  eyes 
told  me  she  meant  what  she  said. 

After  a  moment  I  excused  myself  to  our  party, 
and  sauntered  out  of  the  theatre,  trying  to  think 
how  to  do  the  trick.  I  put  my  thoughts  upon  the 
prima  donna,  and  remembered  at  last  that  she  had 
been  a  little  actress  who  was  once  quite  friendly 
with  me,  when  she  sang  at  the  Varieties,  in  my  ear- 
lier Parisian  days.  I  looked  at  my  programme,  and 
found  I  was  not  mistaken. 

Strolling  around  to  the  stage  entrance,  I  sent  in 
my  card  to  Mile.  Eulalic  de  Bonbon.  How  aristo- 
cratic most  French  actresses  are  !  Their  stage  names 
always  have  a  ''  de  "  in  them. 

Answer  was  very  shortly  brought  me,  and  I  was 
shown  up  to  this  young  lady,  who  said  :  "  My  dear 
Colonel  Lenox,  I  can  give  you  only  a  moment.  You 
were  charming  to  remember  me." 

"  I  threw  you  a  bouquet,"  I  said. 

"  Ah,  yes,  as  a  reminiscence  of  dear  old  times — 
you  naughty  boy  !  " 

""  That  bouquet  has  a  note  in  it  7iot  addressed  to 
you." 

''  Ah,  not  for  me  i  Diable  /  Then  whom  was  it 
for?  "  she  cried,  anger  coming  into  her  eyes.  "■  Was 
it  for  the  miserable  Seraphine,  who  cannot  dance,  or 
that  audacious  Georgette,  who  attempts  to  sing  with 
me,  but  can  only  croak?" 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  203 

"  No,"  I  replied  ;  ''  the  note  was  for  my  wife.  I 
stole  the  bouquet  from  her.  You  can  keep  the 
flowers,  Eulalie  ;  it's  the  note  I  want." 

**For  revenge?"  she  cried,  laughing.  "  Ha — ah,  a 
duel,  mon  brave  !  " 

"  I  hardly  think  so,"  I  said.  "  I  leave  St.  Peters- 
burg in  a  day  or  two." 

"■  Ah  !  Very  well !  I  shall  be  at  the  Varieties 
again  this  winter.  You  can  throw  me  more  bou- 
quets. Adieu  !  "  As  she  handed  me  the  note,  the 
address  caught  her  eye.  She  kissed  her  hand  to 
me,  cried,  "  Madame  has  been  naughty,  eh?"  then 
laughed  :  "  That  diable  Sacha !  "  and  grinned  at  me 
in  a  way  that  made  me  want  to  wring  her  neck,  as 
she  skipped  off  to  her  cue  of  entrance. 

I  looked  at  the  missive. 

Should  I  read  it?  Yes!  Helen  said  my  safety 
depended  upon  it.  I  inspected  it  by  the  light  of  an 
electric  lamp  in  the  street.  Its  contents  mystified  me. 
It  only  contained  four  words : 

"  Seven  o'clock  to-morrow  evening." 

I  strolled  back  to  our  box,  and  as  we  journeyed 
home  from  the  performance,  handed  it  to  Helene. 
She  opened  it,  glanced  at  it,  gave  a  sigh  of  relief, 
said,  '^  Very  good  " — nothing  more. 

At  the  door  of  our  apartments  she  turned  and 
remarked  to  me :  "  I  don't  think  you  are  very  good 
company,  my  dear  Arthur.  Stroll  down  to  the  Yacht 
Club  and  tell  Boris  we  will  be  his  guests.  Make  a 
night  of  it  there."  I  saw  she  wanted  to  get  rid  of 
me. 

*'  And  you  ?  "  I  said. 


204  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

"  The  less  you  know  of  my  movements,  the  better 
for  your  safety  now,"  she  whispered. 

I  walked  to  the  Yacht  Club  and  delighted  Boris 
by  arranging  that  we  should  go  down  with  him  on 
the  early  boat  for  Cronstadt. 

Then  I  tried  to  play  baccarat,  but  I  couldn't  keep 
my  thoughts  on  the  game.  The  clubs  all  looked 
like  policemen's  clubs,  and  the  grinning  knaves  all 
grinned  like  Baron  Friedrich. 

I  gave  it  up,  walked  homeward,  and  entered  my 
apartments  to  find  Helene — NOT  THERE  ! 

I  tried  to  wait  for  her.  The  suspense  was  too 
long  and  too  terrible.  Every  moment  I  expected 
to  hear  the  rap  on  the  door,  and  the  "  Open  in  the 
name  of  the  czar !  "  The  porter,  as  he  collected  the 
boots,  nearly  made  my  heart  jump  out  of  my  mouth. 

I  took  two  powders.  They  lulled  me  to  sleep. 
God  bless  the  poppy  ! 

Helene's  voice  awakened  me.  The  autumn  sun 
was  in  the  room.  I  sprang  up  with  a  yell,  at  which 
she  laughed  and  said  :  "  No  ;  not  yet !  We  have 
another  day,  perhaps.  Let's  make  the  best  use  of  it. 
Nine  o'clock,  Arthur !  Up  and  catch  the  Cronstadt 
boat." 

She  hurried  through  breakfast.  I  did  not  eat. 
Somehow  my  appetite  was  getting  bad.  Then  we 
drove  to  the  quay,  boarded  the  steamboat,  and  in 
company  with  Boris,  who  had  awaited  us,  darted  out 
upon  the  swift  blue  Neva  down  past  picturesque 
islands  dotted  with  villas  and  small  palaces.  Peter- 
hoff  to  the  left  displayed  its  clustered  marble  col- 
umns and  gilded  domes  as  we  ran  out  into  the  Gulf 
of  Finland. 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  205 

Cronstadt's  granite  forts  and  fleet  at  mooring  could 
be  faintly  descried ;  behind  us  St.  Petersburg,  domi- 
nated by  the  great  cross  on  the  giant  dome  of  St. 
Isaac's,  which  hovered  with  its  mute  benediction 
over  a  helpless  people. 

An  hour  afterward  we  landed  at  the  granite  pier 
of  Cronstadt,  took  an  early  lunch  at  the  Hotel  de 
Russie,  and  were  soon  on  board  the  Vsadnik,  Boris 
welcoming  us  as  her  captain.  On  this  fleet  despatch 
boat  we  glided  over  the  glassy  waters  of  the  gulf 
and  visited  several  of  the  huge  iron-clads  and  outer 
forts,  my  companion  chatting  vivaciously  with  the 
young  Russian  officer. 

'■'■  All  the  vessels  are  stopped  before  the  forts,  I 
believe,"  said  she,  with  an  inquiring  smile. 

*'  Oh,  yes !  Incoming  craft  await  a  pilot ;  outgo- 
ing vessels  slow  down  till  inspected,  and  wait  till  the 
conclusion  of  passport  examination.  Every  vessel's 
name  and  clearance  is  telegraphed  here ;  she  shows 
her  flag  and  number  on  slowing  dowm." 

''And  you  have  the  boarding  duty  to-day  ?  It 
will  be  quite  interesting  for  us  to  see  this  work," 
murmured  Helene.  ''  I  suppose  we  can  go  onboard 
some  of  them." 

''  Certainly,"  said  the  gallant  Weletsky.  ''  Any 
one  you  wish." 

As  he  spoke,  several  columns  of  smoke  showed  in 
the  distance  that  outgoing  steamers  were  approach- 
ing from  St.  Petersburg.  The  forts  began  to  signal 
to  our  vessel.  Weletsky's  under  officer  approached 
and  reported.  The  young  commander  gave  his 
orders  for  the  boarding  parties. 

As  the  vessels  neared  us,  several  boats  w^ere  low- 


206  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

ered  and  the  Vsadnik  stood  along  under  steerage 
way.  One  of  two  of  the  coasting  steamers  were 
nearing  us.  These  slowed  up.  Our  boats  boarded 
and  examined  them  and  took  off  the  customs  in- 
spectors. A  large  sea-going  steamer  followed  im- 
mediately after  these  smaller  fry. 

"What  vessel  is  that?"  asked  Helene,  languidly. 
"  Yes — the  big  one — the  one  with  the  two  funnels." 

''  The  Swedish  steamer  Dalecarlia,  outward 
bound,"  was  the  reply. 

**  She  is  very  beautiful,"  said  my  wife. 

*' You  would  like  to  see  her?"  inquired  Boris. 

"  Yes,  she  will  do  as  well  as  another.  She  is  stop- 
ping now." 

"  Very  well ;  we  will  go  !  You  shall  see  the  rou- 
tine of  examination  on  her  !  "  cried  our  host. 

His  barge  was  waiting  him.  He  gallantly  escorted 
my  wife  down  the  gangway  to  it.  I  followed  after. 
As  we  neared  this  splendid  steamer,  her  side  gang- 
way was  quickly  lowered.  The  Russian  flag  in  our 
boat  indicated  a  commanding  officer,  and  the  mer- 
chant captain,  hat  in  hand,  was  at  the  companionway. 

Weletsky  knew  him  from  his  continued  passing, 
and  presented  him  to  us  as  Captain  Olafson,  of 
Stockholm.  He  immediately  offered  his  arm  to 
Helene,  and  showed  us  the  steamer.  Boris  excused 
himself  to  us,  and  proceeded  to  his  duties,  examined 
the  passenger  lists,  checked  off  the  passports,  and 
looked  over  the  custom-house  papers. 

While  this  was  going  on,  I  saw  something  that 
astonished  me.  Unnoticed  by  any  one  but  me,  for 
the  decks  were  crowded  with  passengers  and  the 
hurry  and  bustle  of  departure  were  going  on,  Helene 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  20/ 

and  the  Swedish  captain  were  conversing  hurriedly, 
excitedly. 

Boris  was  returning  to  me.  Our  stay  was  almost 
up.  Black  smoke  was  pouring  out  of  the  vessel's 
funnels.  Papers  and  passengers  had  been  inspected. 
Boris's  official  duty  was  done. 

The  whistle  sounded. 

As  the  steam  shrieked  into  the  air,  there  was  a 
noise  of  hurried  movement,  a  stumble,  a  woman's 
cry  of  anguish,  and  Helene  fell  fainting  on  the  deck. 
She  had  tripped  over  a  coil  of  rope.  The  passen- 
gers thronged  around  her.  I  sprang  to  her  side, 
Boris  rushed  to  us,  but  the  captain  was  cool. 

*'  Call  the  surgeon  !  "  he  said  sharply.  "  Better 
take  the  lady  into  my  cabin." 

A  few  moments  after,  the  ship's  doctor  made  his 
report.     Helene's  ankle  was  badly  sprained  ! 

"How  badly?"  asked  Boris,  sharply.  "She  can 
be  moved,  I  presume." 

"  It  would  cause  her  intense  pain — perhaps  per- 
manent injury,"  replied  the  surgeon. 

Then  the  captain  and  the  young  Russian  lieuten- 
ant went  into  hasty  consultation,  the  merchant  offi- 
cer at  last  breaking  out  :  "  But  I  must  go  on,  com- 
mander!  Think  of  my  insurance,  my  ship,  my 
cargo — I  shall  lose  my  place." 

To  this  Boris  replied  anxiously:  "  Madame  Lenox 
can't  go  on  in  this  way.  The  colonel  has  no  passport. 
It  would  never  do  !  " 

"  I  have  a  passport,"  I  said  "  good  to  leave  Russia 
via  Eydtkuhnen,  for  myself  and  wife."  I  presented 
him  the  document  on  which  our  railroad  tickets  had 
been  refused. 


208  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

"Oh, yes;  but  this  one  is  not  good  for  Cronstadt. 
My  orders  are  imperative !  "  said  the  young  officer. 

"  But  the  sick  lady  !  "  said  the  surgeon,  hurriedly. 

''  One  moment !  "  cried  Boris.  Then  he  took  me 
aside.  "  My  dear  Lenox,  it  is  out  of  the  ordinary 
routine  to  let  any  one  leave  Russia  with  passports 
marked  from  any  other  port  or  city,  but  I  suppose 
in  your  case,  if  your  wife  is  too  ill  to  be  taken  off 
this  boat,  I  might  permit  it,  providing  you  give  me 
your  honor  as  a  man  to  bring  her  back  by  the  return 
steamer.     Otherwise " 

"  Otherwise  ?  "  said  I. 

His  eyes  met  mine  anxiously.  *'  Otherwise  the 
affair  will  be  very  serious  for  me.  You  as  an  army 
officer  know  what  disobedience  of  orders  means  to  a 
naval  one,"  he  replied. 

I  said  :  ''  I  will  see  my  wife,  and  tell  you  in  a  few 
moments  whether  she  can  be  moved." 

Then  I  went  into  the  stateroom.  Helene  was 
lying  on  the  lounge,  her  face  apparently  drawn  by 
pain,  her  boot  off,  her  ankle  bandaged. 

I  saw  the  deftness  with  which  she  had  conceived 
this  plan.  This  affair  had  been  arranged  the  night 
before.  The  Swedish  captain  was  one  of  their  order, 
and  in  league  with  her  to  get  her  out  of  Russia. 

Her  safety  would  give  me  safety.  Oh,  the  temp- 
tation, the  longing  to  accept  it !  But  I  knew  it 
meant  ruin  to  the  brave  young  Russian  sailor,  my 
friend  and  relative,  who  paced  the  deck  outside,  im- 
patiently. He  would  trust  to  my  word  of  honor. 
She  would  leave  the  vessel  at  Stockholm  ;  I  could 
not  detain  her.     It  would  be  his  destruction. 

Then    I    closed   the    door,    stepped    to    her,  and 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  209 

whispered :  "  Get  up  !    Put  on  your  boot,  and  leave 
the  ship  with  me  !  " 

''  I  can't,  Arthur !  You  are  a  barbarian,  a  fool 
too  ! "  she  whispered.  "  Don't  you  see  this  is  Hfe 
for  both  of  us  ?  " 

"Yes,"  said  I.  ''  Life  for  us,  but  degradation  and 
the  Caucasus  for  him." 

"That  makes  no  difference!  He  is  a  Russian! 
Self-preservation  !  My  Heaven,  Arthur,  you  are  not 
going  to  spoil  our  one  chance  for  safety?  Think  of 
your  wife !  You  will  never  see  her  again,  if  you  do 
not  help  me  now  to  escape  !  " 

"  No,  no  !  "  I  gasped.    "  Don't  tempt  me  !  " 

"  Think  of  my  love !  "  she  cried ;  "  for  I  will  love 
you  710ZU,  if  you  will  spare  me ! "  then  burst  out 
sobbing :  "  I  dare  not  stay  !  I  have  been  told  the 
punishment  that  will  be  given  !  My  God,  I  dare 
not !  I  am  frightened  !  It  was  too  awful  to  tell 
you  !  For  God's  sake,  have  pity!  "  and  wrung  her 
hands,  for  her  nerves  had  given  way  to  the  pro- 
longed strain  and  she  was  a  picture  of  physical  fear. 

Then  she  broke  out  again:  "  Have  mercy  !  Tell 
him  you  will  take  me  to  Stockholm  and  bring  me 
back.  Lie  to  him  but  o?ice,  for  my  sake !  "  Her 
tempting  arms  were  around  me,  but  it  seemed  to 
me  that  I  almost  despised  her,  as  I  thought  of  the 
gallant  young  sailor  that  she  would  sacrifice,  whose 
career  she  would  destroy,  and  whose  life  she  would 
make  one  of  horror  and  degradation — to  save  her 
miserable  self. 

"  Get  up  !  "  I  said  sternly.  "  Put  on  your  boot,  or 
I  will  tell  Boris  Weletsky  everything." 

"  And  he  ?  "  she  said. 
14 


2IO  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

*'  He  will  do  his  duty." 

She  rose  up,  looked  me  in  the  face,  and  saw  I 
was  immovable.  Then  she  gave  a  great  sigh,  as  of 
despair,  and  muttered  :  "  You  fool !  you  are  going 
back  to  your  destruction!"  and  growing  calmer, 
whispered  :  "  Very  well !  The  comedy  is  ended  ! 
The  tragedy  begins  !  Tell  Captain  Boris  that  I  am 
sufficiently  recovered  for  you  to  carry  me  down  to 
his  boat;"  then  laughed  hysterically,  and  astonished 
me  with  these  words  :  ''  You  have  saved  one  brother, 
you  have  destroyed  the  other.  But  it  is  better  that 
way.  This  naval  gentleman  is  more  worthy  than 
the  major  of  the  Garde.'' 

I  stepped  out  on  deck  and  told  Boris  that  on  ex- 
amination I  found  my  wife  had  the  fortitude  to  per- 
mit me  to  carry  her  down  the  gangway  to  his  boat, 
rather  than  that  he  should  be  at  any  inconvenience 
or  risk  on  our  account. 

I  know  by  the  sigh  of  relief  he  gave  that  it  had 
taken  a  mighty  weight  from  his  mind. 

Two  minutes  afterward,  assisted  by  Boris,  I  car- 
ried Helene  to  his  boat,  the  Swedish  captain  and 
his  doctor  staring  in  astonishment  after  us. 

In  half  an  hour  we  were  again  in  Cronstadt,  and 
Helene,  partially  recovered,  leaning  upon  my  arm, 
was  assisted  to  a  carriage.  We  were  soon  at  the 
railroad  depot,  and  an  hour  and  a  half  afterward 
were  in  St.  Petersburg,  my  wife  looking  at  her 
watch  very  often.  She  was  apparently  in  a  feverish 
anxiety  to  reach  our  apartments. 

"  To  the  hotel,  quick  !  "  she  cried.  '*  I  am  very 
hungry;  are  you  not,  Arthur?  I  ordered  dinner 
before   we    left,    to    be   ready    at   six."     Then    she 


MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE.  211 

sighed  :  "  I  had  hoped  we  would  not  be  here  to  eat 
it.  I  might  have  lost  all  my  trunks,  and  been  very- 
seasick  this  evening  ;  but  now — now,  there  is  but 
little  between  us  and — "  She  pointed  her  thumb 
significantly  at  the  great  fortress  over  the  river,  with 
its  underground  cells  and  mysterious  horrors. 

We  entered  our  apartment,  to  find  the  table  al- 
ready set  and  dinner  waiting  for  us.  I  went  into 
my  room,  Helene  into  hers;  but  while  making  my 
toilet,  as  I  was  about  to  brush  my  hair,  a  little  piece 
of  paper  fell  from  the  brush  on  the  floor.  I  stooped 
down  and  picked  it  up.     It  read  : 

"  Be  very  careful  of  your  wife  this  evening,  I  think  Sacha  means 
to  carry  her  off.'' 

It  was  in  the  same  handwriting  as  the  note  of  two 
days  before — that  of  the  French  governess.  "  Curse 
him  !  Even  with  death  above  me,  Sacha  should 
never  triumph  !  "  I  muttered  to  myself  fiercely,  and 
strolled  into  the  salon. 

Linking  this  with  Helene's  curious  ruse  on  the 
ship,  I  became  suspicious.  She  would  desert  me 
here  and  leave  me  alone  a  prey  to  Russian  justice. 

The  dinner  passed  away.  Nothing  peculiar  hap- 
pened, though  after  the  coffee  I  grew  unusually 
drowsy. 

I  fought  against  this.  It  overcame  me.  It 
seemed  to  me  as  if  the  dinner  I  had  eaten  acted 
upon  me  as  my  powders  did.  The  room  became 
hazy  to  me. 

In  it  I  saw  the  face  of  Sacha.  I  wanted  to  spring 
up,  seize  him  by  the  throat,  to  throttle  him  for 
daring  to  be   here.     I  heard  a  faint   murmur  in  the 


212  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

air,  and  a  woman's  voice — her  voice — saying  :  "  I 
have  not  given  him  too  much — not  as  much  as  he 
gave  me." 

Then  bHss  came  upon  me  and  insensibility. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE    LAST    COUP    OF   THE    DESPAIRING    RAT. 

It  was  morning. 

Some  one  touched  me  on  the  shoulder  and  said: 
*'  Pardon  me ;  I  have  a  message  from  Baron  Fried- 
rich." 

I  saw  a  gentleman  in  plain  clothes  standing  by  my 
bedside. 

I  knew  it  had  come.  The  hand  that  had  been 
hovering  over  me  so  long  had  fallen.  I  was  in  the 
grasp  of  Russian  justice.  The  man  said  politely: 
"  I  would  not  have  awakened  you,  but  my  orders 
were  imperative  and  immediate,  Colonel  Lenox. 
Would  you  be  kind  enough  to  dress  yourself  and 
come  with  me?  I  hope  the  business  will  be  short 
enough  to  permit  your  return  for  breakfast." 

As  I  stepped  out  of  bed  and  made  my  morning 
toilet  I  knew  that  I  would  breakfast  no  more  in  that 
hotel.  The  chill  was  on  my  heart — that  shivering 
coldness  that  comes  to  those  who  have  before  them 
nothing  but  despair. 

As  soon  as  I  was  ready,  this  gentleman  requested 
me  to  follow  him.  Together  we  passed  through  the 
salon.  There  I  saw  two  other  men  in  plain  clothes, 
but  with  alert  demeanor,  seated  quietly,  apparently 
v/aiting  orders. 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  21 3 

I  had  expected  to  find  Helene  there  before  me,  per- 
haps with  manacles  upon  her  fair  wrists — perchance 
with  a  gag  in  her  pretty  mouth ;  but  she  was  not 
visible. 

However,  I  knew  she  was  as  surely  in  their  hands 
as  I  was,  as  I  heard  her  breathing,  deep  and  strong, 
coming  over  the  transom,  and  knew  when  she  awoke 
it  would  be  in  the  clutches  of  Russian  justice. 

I  was  about  to  speak  to  her  when  the  gentleman 
at  my  side  said :  *'  Pardon  me  ;  you  must  come  with 
me  at  once,  without  word  to  madame.  These  are 
my  orders." 

So  I  followed  him  down  to  a  carriage  which  was 
waiting  in  the  courtyard  of  the  hotel,  and  together 
we  drove  up  the  Nevsky  to  the  local  police  station 
— the  one  devoted  to  the  more  immediate  affairs  of 
Russian  justice.  Here,  passing  through  guards,  who 
opened  for  my  companion,  I  stepped  upstairs  and 
was  shown  into  a  comfortable  office.  Two  doors, 
besides  the  one  I  had  entered,  opened  into  the 
apartment.  Here  Baron  Friedrich  was  seated  at  his 
desk,  a  couple  oi  gendarmes  in  attendance. 

Dismissing  these,  he  sprang  up  and  said :  "■  My 
dear  colonel,  you  will  pardon  my  troubling  you 
before  breakfast,  but  this  was  a  matter  of  moment. 
We  can,  however,  I  hope,  settle  the  affair  in  a  very 
few  minutes.     Permit  me  to  offer  you  a  cigar." 

Attempting  nonchalance,  I  accepted  it,  and  tried 
to  smoke,  but  I  did  not  enjoy  it.  Noting  this,  he 
laughed  slightly  and  remarked :  "  It  is  not  quite  so 
good  as  those  we  had  on  the  road  from  Wilna,  a 
week  ago.  But  to  come  to  the  point  at  once,  as 
I    presume  you  are  in  a  hurry  for  your  breakfast. 


214  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

The  police  have  apprehended  a  lady  travelling  in 
Russia  under  a  passport  which  states  that  she  is 
your  wife.  Now  of  course  we  know  your  wife  is 
with  you  at  the  De  I'Europe  ;  consequently  this 
impostor  has  been  brought  here  simply  that  you 
may  say  she  is  not  your  wife,  and  then  we  will  deal 
with  her  as  one  who  travels  under  false  papers." 

These  words,  so  kindly  in  appearance,  so  awful  in 
import,  agitated,  horrified  me.  My  heart  got  into 
my  mouth. 

My  suspense  did  not  last  long. 

"  She  will  be  here  in  a  moment,"  said  the  baron, 
"  and  it  will  require  but  two  words  from  you."  He 
touched  a  bell,  and  to  the  answering  attendant 
said:  "You  may  bring  the  lady  in — the  one  in 
waiting." 

A  moment  after  the  door  opened,  and  in  pretty 
travelling  dress,  but  agitated  and  indignant,  a  lady 
entered,  threw  off  her  veil,  and  cried  :  "  What  new 
outrage  is  this?"  then  shrieked:  "Arthur!  thank 
God,  you're  alive !  I  feared,  from  the  telegram, 
you  were  dead."  And  my  tme  wife — my  blue-eyed 
one  from  Paris — had  thrown  herself,  sobbing,  into 
my  arms,  and  with  tears,  caresses,  and  endearing 
words,  and  pantings  of  joy,  had  nearly  broken  my 
wicked  heart  at  the  thought  that  for  seven  days  I 
had  forgotten  her  for  the  glances  of  another. 

On  this  scene  the  baron  looked,  a  smile  of  supreme 
happiness  and  triumph  shining  through  his  blue 
spectacles,  though  I  noted  he  knocked  the  ashes  of 
his  cigar  off  nervously.  Then  he  said  suddenly : 
"  Colonel  Lenox,  who  is  this  woman  ?  " 

"My  wife,  my  true  wife!"  I  cried.     "My  God! 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  215 

you  did  not  suppose  that  I  would  deny  her  and  leave 
her  to  the  tender  mercies  of  Russian  justice?" 

"  Russian  justice  !  "  cried  Laura,  my  wife.  "  Rus- 
sian justice  is  an  outrage.  I  don't  care  " — for  I 
had  put  up  my  hand  w-arningly — "  I  will  speak. 
I  received  your  telegram  saying  that  you  were 
dangerously  ill  here,  and  asking  me  to  come  and 
nurse  you.  Your  letter  had  told  me  of  the  epidemic 
raging  here.  I  took  the  train  from  Paris  for  St. 
Petersburg  at  once,  using  the  passport  I  had  from 
the  American  minister,  and  '  viseed '  by  the  Russian 
ambassador  to  France.  Immediately  after  crossing 
the  frontier  I  was  arrested  and  brought  here  under 
surveillance,  kept  here  this  morning  as  a  criminal. 
Now  come  with  me  and  demand  justice  from  those 
in  authority  above  this  wicked  little  fat  man.  Let 
us  go  to  the  American  Legation  at  once !  " 

At  this  I  gave  a  hoarse,  horrible  laugh  of  despair, 
and  Baron  Friedrich  said :  '■'■  Pardon  me ;  I  must 
part  your  husband  from  you,  madame,  though  you 
will  be  shortly  free." 

"  And  my  husband !  "  she  cried.    "  What  of  him  ?  " 

The  baron's  blue  eyeglasses  were  impenetrable. 
*'  That  afterward^''  he  said  significantly.  "  At 
present,  madame,  I  offer  you  my  humble  apologies 
for  the  arrest  you  have  been  subject  to  and  the 
misapprehension  that  has  caused  it,  but — "  He 
made  a  sign. 

I  gave  her  one  last,  despairing  kiss ;  she  was  led 
back  from  me  into  the  apartment  from  which  she 
had  come ;  the  door  closed  on  her.  My  God ! 
would  I  ever  see  her  again  in  this  life  ? 

As  I  thought  of  my  many  sins,  both  of  omission 


2l6  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

and  commission,  in  my  military  career,  I  feared 
never  in  the  other. 

*'  Now,"  cried  Baron  Friedrich,  his  manner  losing 
that  of  friendship  and  becoming  that  of  the  Minis- 
ter of  Justice,  "  your  explanation  of  this,  sir.  Your 
confession !  Reserve  is  useless,  for  now  I  know 
who  your  other  wife  is,  and  I  have  HER!" 

There  was  triumph  and  gloating  in  his  eyes  as  he 
spoke,  and  his  fat  little  body  seemed  to  expand  and 
become  larger  and  more  potent.  He  touched  a 
bell,  and  gave  some  hurried  orders  to  the  person 
that  came  in  to  him.  What  these  were  I  don't 
know ;  I  was  thinking  of  myself.  Then  he  turned 
to  me  and  said,  as  judge  addresses  criminal :  ''  Now, 
sir!" 

All  reserve  was  useless.  I  hurriedly  began  to  tell 
him  the  story  of  my  adventure,  from  the  frontier 
on.  He  occasionally  interrupted  me,  tapping  upon 
the  desk  and  saying:  "Good!  that  is  right.  Now 
I  know  I  have  her  !  I  have  her ! !  She  is  mine  !  ! !  " 
as  a  man  would  shout  at  a  bauble  that  he  has 
longed  for  all  his  life,  something  unattainable,  some- 
thing he  could  never  hope  for,  but  has  now,  to  his 
astonishment  and  happiness,  in  his  hands. 

While  I  was  in  the  midst  of  this,  in  fact,  before  I 
had  given  him  the  details  of  our  arrival  in  St.  Peters- 
burg, there  was  a  rap  on  the  door. 

"  One  moment,"  said  Baron  Friedrich  ;  then  cried  : 
"  Come  in  !  " 

An  under  official  stepped  to  him  and  said  :  "The 
Councillor  Constantine  Weletsky  desires  to  see 
you;"  and  looking  upon  me,  whispered  :  "It  is  upon 
his  business,  I  think." 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


217 


"  Very  well,  admit  him." 

A  second  after,  my  noble  Russian  relative  entered 
the  apartment  hastily,  vvildness  in  his  eye  and  hu- 
miliation and  sorrow  in  his  bearing,  and  before 
either  Friedrich  or  I  could  say  a  word,  burst  out 
upon  us  ; 

"  I  know,  my  poor  Lenox,  the  business  that  has 
brought  you  here — the  awful  misery  that  has  come 
upon  you  through  one  of  my  house,  though  I  dis- 
own him  and  curse  him  for  his  outrage  upon  the 
rights  of  hospitality  !  " 

*'  Of  whom  are  you  talking  ?  "  cried  Friedrich, 
hastily. 

*'  Of  my  nephew,  Sacha  Weletsky,  major  of  the 
Chevalier  Garde,  whose  commission  I  shall  beg  the 
czar  as  a  personal  favor  to  cancel,  for  he  has  de- 
graded Russian  manhood  and  my  family  by  eloping 
with  the  wife  of  my  guest."  And  the  old  gentleman 
wiped  tears  of  rage  and  anguish  from  his  eyes  as 
both  Friedrich  and  I  gazed  at  each  other  amazed. 

Then  he  broke  out  again : 

**  My  dear  Lenox,  I  begged  you  to  bring  your 
wife  to  my  house  to  live  !  Why  did  you  not  accept 
my  hospitality  ?  Could  you  not  see  that  I  wished 
the  shield  of  my  own  roof-tree  to  be  put  over  your 
wife  to  keep  her  from  the  attentions,  the  arts,  the 
intrigues  of  my  scoundrelly  nephew,  who  respects 
neither  relationship  nor  hospitality  ?" 

"  My  dear  councillor,"  interrupted  Baron  Fried- 
rich, "  what  strange  tale  are  you  telling  us  ?  " 

"  I  am  telling  you  the  truth  !  I  have  discovered 
this  morning  that  last  evening  my  nephew  Alex- 
ander Weletsky  eloped  and   departed  from  Russia 


2l8  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

with  the  wife  of  this  gentleman  here,  my  guest,  my 
relative." 

''  Impossible !  "  cried  Baron  Friedrich,  while  I 
burst  out  into  a  hideous  laugh. 

This  was  echoed  by  the  head  of  police,  though  I 
could  see  that  for  the  moment  he  grew  pale.  Then 
he  said  pointedly  :  "  I  have  one  upon  her  track  for 
the  last  twenty-four  hours  from  whom  she  could 
never  escape.  The  lady  whom  you  say  has  eloped 
with  your  nephew,  my  dear  Weletsky,  will  be  here 
in  five  minutes  to  show  you  you  are  mistaken." 

But  even  as  he  spoke  the  door  was  thrown  open, 
and  Baron  Friedrich  grew  pale,  then  reeled  and 
clutched  his  desk  convulsively,  while  both  Constan- 
tine  and  I  gave  a  gasp  of  astonishment ;  for  into  our 
presence,  bound  and  gagged,  was  brought,  not  the 
figure  of  the  graceful  Helene,  but  the  lithe  form 
of  the  French  governess.  Mademoiselle  Eugenie  de 
Launay,  whose  dark  eyes  were  flashing  fire,  and 
whose  lips,  if  they  could  have  spoken,  would  have 
cried  out  in  rage  and  anger. 

"  What  have  we  here  ?  "  gasped  Constantine. 

''  Ungag  that  woman  instantly,"  commanded 
Friedrich.  Then  he  said,  hurriedly  but  politely  : 
"And  may  I  ask  you  to  withdraw  for  a  few  minutes. 
Councillor  Weletsky  ?  " 

I  was  about  to  follow  my  relative,  when  Fried- 
rich's  little  fat  hand  fell  on  my  shoulder.  "As 
for  you,  remain  here,"  he  whispered  ;  "  YOU  ARE 
MINE !  "  And  my  heart  grew  chilly,  though  I 
looked  with  astonishment  at  the  interview  that  now 
took  place. 

The   moiyient   she  was  released  the   De   Launay 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


219 


was  about  to  give  tongue,  when  Friedrich  stopped 
her,  and  said  :  ''  Silence  !  Answer  my  questions. 
Not  another  word.  Where  is  the  woman  who  has 
been  travelh'ng  under  the  passport  as  this  man's 
wife?"  and  pointed  to  me. 

"  She  has  fled." 

"  Fled  !     My  God  !     When  ?     Where  ?  " 

"  With  Sacha  Weletsky,  last  night." 

"At  what  hour?" 

"  Seven  o'clock." 

*' Where  to?" 

*'  I  do  not  know." 

''  One  moment  ;  she  could  not  have  got  out  of 
reach  so  soon  ;  that  is  impossible."  Then  he  com- 
menced to  wring  his  hands  and  groan.  "  My  God,  tf 
she  has  escaped!  "  Next  cried:  "A  telegraph  clerk, 
quick  !  She  could  never  have  escaped  by  this  time. 
Eydtkuhnen  ? — the  distance  is  too  great.  Cronstadt  ? 
— guarded.  There  is  only  one  other  place  in  these 
few  hours  by  which  she  could  have  left  Russia — 
Wiborg  !  "  He  rang  his  bell,  and  directed  :  "  Tele- 
graph Wiborg  instantly.  Ask  if  any  ship  left 
there  last  night.  If  so,  what  passengers.  Telegraph 
particularly  if  Sacha  Weletsky,  major  in  the  CJieva- 
lier  Garde  has  been  seen  there.  Was  there  a 
woman  in  his  company  ? — if  so,  under  what  passport 
she  travelled.  If  there  now,  arrest  them  at  once." 
Then  he  said  suddenly :  "  Telegraph  their  descrip- 
tions to  all  railroad  stations  within  one  thousand 
versts  of  St.  Petersburg,  and  order  their  arrest." 
Then  he  paced  the  floor  talking  to  himself  aloud  : 
•'  They  would  not  have  dared  to  hide  themselves  in 
the    country?       No.      Sacha    knows    too  much    for 


220  MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

that ;  that  means  delayed  but  certain,  ultimate 
arrest."  He  turned  again  to  the  woman,  and  said : 
''  Tell  me  the  details.  I  had  supposed  you  sure^ 
because  I  knew  you  hated  the  woman  you  were 
watching." 

"  Yes,"  cried  I,  wildly,  "  but  loved \.\v^  man!  " 

''What,  loved  Sacha  Weletsky!  My  God!  is 
that  the  clew  to  your  conduct  ?  "  he  cried.  *' Answer 
me!" 

The  woman  fell  down  before  him,  wringing  her 
hands  and  sobbing :    ''  Have  mercy  !  " 

''  Answer  me — the  truth  !  That  is  the  only  way 
to  get  mercy  from  Baron  Friedrich.      The  trutJi  !  " 

*'  I  had  your  instructions.  I  went  there  to  watch  ! 
My  God  !  do  you  suppose  that  I  would  have  permit- 
ted the  man  I  loved  to  run  away  with  the  woman  I 
hated  if  I  could  have  stopped  it  ?  I  was  on  watch 
at  the  hotel  all  day.  I  saw  this  gentleman  and  her 
go  to  Cronstadt." 

"  Did  she  hope  to  escape  me  there  ?  "  cried  Fried- 
rich,  in  a  voice  that  showed  me  Helene's  plan  on 
the  Dalecarlia  would  have  surely  failed. 

"  Then,  at  half-past  five,  I  saw  them  return  to 
their  rooms,  where  the  waiters  had  already  arranged 
dinner  for  them." 

"  Twenty  minutes  after  Sacha  entered  their  apart- 
ments, and  I  watched  more  eagerly.  In  ten  min- 
utes more  he  came  out  again,  and  I  spoke  to  him, 
to  reproach  him  for  his  perfidy  to  me,  for  I  loved 
him." 

"  And  he  beguiled  you  ?  "  sneered  Friedrich,  in  an 
awful  voice. 

"  Y-e-s,  he — he " 


MY    OFFICIAL   WIFE.  221 

"  He  said  :  '  Eugenie,  you  are  jealous  of  a  grarxd- 
mamma.  You  foolish  child  ;  I  don't  love  antiques.' 
He  spoke  to  me  in  the  tones  I  adore  and  could  not 
resist ;  he  whispered  :  *  Wait  here  for  me  a  moment ; 
I  will  prove  to  you  I  am  not  going  to  run  away,  by 
spending  the  next  three  hours  with  you.*  A  mo- 
ment after  he  said  :  '  You  look  tired  ;  Lenox  and  his 
wife  are  in  the  next  room,  I  will  bring  you  a  cup  of 
coffee  from  their  dinner-table.'  He  brought  it  to 
me  with  loving  words,  and  I  drank  it " 

^'  And  then  ?  "  whispered  Baron  Friedrich,  hoarsely. 

"  Then  he  talked  to  me  a  little  more,  and  I  grew 
sleepy,  and  I  felt  his  arms  leading  me  into  the  room  ; 
and  this  morning  I  was  gagged  as  I  awoke  in  my 
rival's  bed,  and  brought  here." 

''  And  your  cursed  passion  for  that  Russian  jacka- 
napes has  destroyed  the  co2i/>  of  my  life.  Don't 
expect  mercy  from  me !  "  cried  Friedrich,  for  Eu- 
genie was  fawning  upon  him. 

But  just  here  the  telegraph  clerk  entered  hurriedly, 
and  placed  a  despatch  in  front  of  Baron  Friedrich, 
at  which  he  uttered  a  growl  of  rage.  His  face 
grew  pale,  his  hands  clutched  themselves  together, 
as  if  grasping  something  that  was  intangible  and  had 
slipped  through  his  fingers.  He  said :  "  Remove 
that  woman !     Leave  me  alone  with  the  American  !  " 

Then  he  muttered  as  we  faced  each  other:  "  This 
telegram  says  the  woman  I  had  thought  my  own  has 
escaped  me.  That  Major  Sacha  Weletsky  travelled 
to  Wiborg,  an  outpost  of  St.  Petersburg — no  pass- 
port being  needed,  as  officer  of  the  day  of  his  regi- 
ment.    That  he  demanded  permission  as  an  ofificer 


222  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

of  the  czar,  on  the  personal  business  of  the  em- 
peror, to  leave  by  the  steamer  sailing  last  night  for 
Denmark.  With  him  a  woman,  presenting  passport 
of  Eugenie  de  Launay,  special  agent  of  secret  de- 
tective bureau  of  the  Russian  Government — general 
passport,  permitting  travel  anywhere  in  pursuit  of 
her  duties.  This  vessel  steamed  out  at  half-past 
eleven  last  night.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  overtake 
her.  She  has  passed  Cronstadt,  even  Rewel,  by  this 
time.  She  is  upon  the  high  seas,  and  safe  from  me 
for  the  time  being." 

Then  he  looked  upon  me  as  the  buzzard  looks 
upon  his  carrion.  "  Button  are  mine  !  "  he  said,  with 
a  little  chuckle.  ''You  who  have  brought  her  into 
Russia,  have  introduced  her  to  your  relatives,  even 
conducted  her  into  the  presence  of  the  czar,  under 
a  false  passport,  as  your  legal  spouse.  You  are 
mine  \—a//  mhie  ! — IN  MY  RAT-TRAP  !  "  And  he 
gloated  over  me. 

But  here  the  inspiration  of  my  life  came  to  me — 
the  happy  thought,  born  of  despair,  for  which  I  pat 
myself  on  my  shoulder  every  day  of  my  life  that  it 
saved !  This  came  to  me,  and  I  gave  him  the  last 
coup  of  the  despairing  rat. 

I  cried  :  ''  No  ;  I  am  as  safe  as  you  are  !  Listen  to 
me  for  your  own  salvation,  my  dear  friend.  Baron 
Friedrich.  True,  I  admitted  this  lady  under  my 
passport.  I  have  violated  enough  Russian  law  for 
you  to  send  me  to  Siberia." 

''  Perhaps  do  more,"  said  the  baron,  dryly. 

"  But  you  cannot  do  this  without  inquiry.  I  am 
a  well-known  American  citizen.  I  am  not  a  person 
you  can  intern  quietly,  without  one  word  being  said. 


MY    OFFICIAL  WIFE.  223 

Inquiry  must  be  made  by  my  legation.  You  can 
set  up  the  facts  of  my  case,  you  can  punish  me, 
doubtless  ;  my  country  will  not  interfere  in  such  a 
matter.  I  know  that.  But  dare  you  tell  the  facts 
to  the  czar,  your  master  ?  Dare  you  let  him  know 
that  you  let  his  arch-enemy  into  Russia — that  you 
spoke  to  her,  you  kissed  her  hand,  and  did  7iot 
know  her  ?  That  you  let  her  into  his  presence  so 
that  she  would  have  murdered  him  ?  " 

"  Murdered  him  !  "  This  was  a  gasp  from  Fried- 
rich. 

"  Murdered  Jiim  !  "     I  felt  confident  now   I  was 
winning,  and  my  tone  grew  stronger. 
He  said  :  "  Hush  !  not  so  loud  !  " 
"  Dare  you  let  the  czar  know  that  it  was  viy  hand, 
not  yours,  that  saved  him  from  death  by  her  pistol  ?  " 
*'  Impossible  !  "  he  cried.    "  What  are  you  telling 
me?" 

*'  What  I  will  prove  to  you.  Listen  to  me  for 
your  official  salvation  ! "  Then  I  told  him  every- 
thing. How  the  opium  drug  in  my  hands  had  saved 
the  czar  from  the  hunter  that  had  him  in  sight  and 
marked  down  as  quarry. 

He  did  not  answer  me,  but  pressed  his  hands  over 
his  eyes,  as  if  thinking  deeply. 

"  Now,"  I  said,  "•  you  told  me  once  it  was  their 
heads  or  yours  !  Dare  you  tell  your  master  that  she 
has  escaped  from  your  hands — this  woman  who  is 
his  terror  as  well  as  yours  ?  Your  best  chance  of 
safety  is  my  safety — which  is  SILENCE !  Get  my 
wife  and  me  outside  of  Russia  at  once.  Let  us  see 
no  one.  I  don't  mind  if  you  send  me  to  the  frontier 
guarded.    And,  above  all,  don't  let  my  wife  loose 


224  MY   OFFICIAL  WIFE. 

in  society  here,  because  then  they  will  know  there 
was  a  false  one  by  my  side  for  a  week." 

Here  Friedrich  gave  a  hideous  chuckle  and  cried : 
"And  your  wife  will  know  there  was  a  false  husband 
here  for  a  week.  Ha — ah  !  Lenox !  I  will  turn  you 
over  to  your  wife's  vengeance  ;  that  will  be  greater 
than  the  czar's." 

I  gave  an  answering  chuckle  also  to  this,  for  I 
knew  it  meant  safety  to  me.  I  said  :  "  Yes,  put  us 
together,  confine  us  in  a  car,  but  ship  us  out  of 
Russia." 

"At  once!"  he  said.  Then  his  old  friendship  for 
me  seemed  to  return,  and  he  cried :  "  When  I  go  to 
Paris  we  will  have  a  pleasant  time  together." 

"Yes,  if  you  say  nothing  to  my  wife,"  said  I. 

A  moment  after  he  remarked:  "You  had  better 
not  return  to  the  hotel." 

"  But,"  said   I,  "  breakfast " 

"  Take  it  with  me.  Your  wife  has  been  already 
provided  for."  He  rang  his  bell,  ordered  breakfast 
for  us  both  in  his  office,  then  directed  my  luggage 
brought  from  the  De  I'Europe  to  me,  and  remarked 
maliciously:  "I  presume  I  had  better  have  the 
lady's  trunks  forwarded  to  your  Paris  address." 

At  which  suggestion  I  nearly  fainted. 

"You  would  like  to  see  that  noble  old  Rus- 
sian, Constantine,  and  bid  him  good-by  ?  "  he  re- 
marked. 

"  No,"  I  muttered. 

"  Ah  !  the  shame  of  injured  hospitality  is  on  your 
head,  not  his,"  he  said ;  then  broke  out  :  "  Oh,  why 
did  you  not  tell  me  when  you  lunched  with  me  ? 
My  heavens  !  what  a  prize   she   would  have  been  ! 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


225 


For   me,  honor  and  power ;  for  you,  half  a  million 
roubles  !  " 

I  told  him  I  was  too  frightened. 

*'  Frightened  ?  Faugh !  you  loved  her,"  he  jeered ; 
then  said  seriously:  "When  a  beautiful  woman  is 
the  criminal,  she  has  all  the  passions  of  men  to  make 
them  shield  her  from  us.  Because  she  was  lovely 
you  risked  death,  and  Sacha,  that  miserable,  has 
ruined  himself  forever." 

*'  But  you  didn't  suspect  her  then  ?  "  I  said. 

"  No  ;  I  thought  her  appearance  very  young  for 
a  grandmother,  but  had  seen  such  things  before. 
Your  reception  by  the  Weletskys  brushed  that 
away.  Oh,  she  was  deep  in  her  wisdom,  astute  in 
her  devices.  She  forgot  herself  but  07ice.  When 
the  music  of  the  mazurka  got  into  her  heart,  her 
blood  answered  it,  and  she  danced  as  none  but  a  Pole, 
Hungarian,  or  Russian  could  have  done.  No  Miss 
Vanderbilt-Astor  could  have  danced  the  national 
dance  as  she  did.  Then  I  suspected  ;  but  your  in- 
troductions were  so  good.  Weletsky  stands  so  high 
with  the  czar  I  dared  not  make  a  mistake,  and  so  I 
telegraphed  Paris  and  sent  your  trite  wife  a  message 
that  you  were  ill — and  my  little  ruse  was  successful. 
By  the  bye,  madame  is  awaiting  you  impatiently." 

Two  hours  after,  as  the  one  o'clock  train  dashed 
out  of  the  Warsaw  railway  station,  my  wife  and  I 
left  St.  Petersburg  under  surveillance  of  the  police, 
with  orders  to  speak  to  no  one  ;  but  I  travelled  very 
pleasantly,  for  I  was  as  happy  as  a  man  who  had 
escaped  from  the  jaws  of  death,  and  listened  to  my 
wife's  anathemas  on  the  Russian  police,  who  were 
treating  her  as  a  nihilist  and  a  criminal,  she  claimed, 
15 


226  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

and  her  threats  that  she  would  never  let  me  visit 
Russia  again,  with  complacence,  even  rapture. 

All  this  journey  Baron  Friedrich  was  on  the  train 
with  us ;  in  fact,  he  went  with  us  to  the  frontier. 
At  Eydtkuhnen  he  bade  me  good-by.  He  said : 
"Lenox,  Russia  is  not  the  proper  country  for  you." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  remarked  I. 

"  You  are  a  peculiar  man,"  said  he.  "  I  would 
offer  you  a  great  deal  to  join  our  forces,  to  come 
under  my  orders." 

''  No,  thank  you,"  laughed  I. 

"Ah!"  said  he,  tapping  me  on  the  shoulder, 
"you  are  an  infernal  idiot,  with  some  flashes  of 
genius,  that's  what  you  are,  my  dear  Lenox. 
Adieu  ! " 


CHAPTER  XVH. 

AT   THE   OPERA    IN    PARIS. 

Some  three  months  after  this,  in  the  height  of 
the  season,  my  wife  and  I,  rather  late  in  the  even- 
ing, stepped  out  of  our  carriage  at  the  portals  of 
the  Grand  Opera,  in  Paris. 

It  was  a  snowy  night.  The  electric  lights  flashed 
upon  the  gorgeous  equipages  of  the  rich — the  rags 
of  the  poor.  As  I  assisted  my  Laura  from  the  car- 
riage, and  was  leading  her  into  the  grand  entrance, 
a  hand  was  placed  upon  my  arm,  a  voice  came  to 
my  ear  that  made  me  start ;  a  voice  I  had  not  heard 
for  three  months.  I  turned  around  and  beheld 
Sacha!     His  coat  was  a  little  shiny.     He  was   nc 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE.  22^ 

more  the  dashing  swell  of  the  Chevalier  Garde ; 
no  more  the  high  roller  of  the  Imperial  Yacht 
Club. 

He  whispered  :  "  For  God's  sake,  I  want  to  see 
you,  Lenox  !  " 

"Very  well,"  said  I.  "As  soon  as  I  have  taken 
madame  to  her  box,  I  will  speak  to  you." 

"  Aha  !  "  he  said,  a  curious  significance  in  his  voice, 
"you  have  consoled  yourself  quickly  !  " 

"Hush!"  I  muttered;  "I  will  see  you  in  a  few 
moments."  And  taking  my  wife,  who  had  looked 
rather  astonished  at  my  interview  with  a  man  who 
appeared  to  her  part  beggar,  part  tramp,  part 
chevalier  d' Industrie^  went  with  my  Laura  to  our 
box,  and  made  her  comfortable. 

Then  I  said :  "  You  must  excuse  me  for  a  few 
moments." 

"  And  why  ?  " 

"  A  gentleman  downstairs " 

"  Gentleman?  " 

"  Well — man — wishes  to  see  me." 

"  Case  of  charity  ?  " 

"Yes,"  I  said,  "partially  so  ;  I  think  he  wants  me 
to  get  him  a  position." 

Then  I  went  down,  feeling  very  uncomfortable. 
If  this  wretched,  reckless  fellow,  whose  commission 
I  learned  had  been  cancelled  in  the  Garde,  who 
had  been  expelled  from  the  Imperial  Yacht  Club, 
whose  property  had  been  confiscated  for  his  escapade, 
knew  the  whole  truth,  what  a  power  he  had  over 
me.     If  he  whispered  it  to  Laura — good  heavens ! 

As  I  joined  him  he  remarked  :  "  You  do  not  wish 
to  see  me  ?  " 


228  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

"  No,"  I  said  ;    "  why  should  I  ?  " 

"  But  I  wish  to  see  you." 

"Come  this  way,"  I  said,  and  led  him  into  a 
neighboring  caf^  where  we  might  have  both  quiet 
and  privacy.  I  offered  him  a  drink.  He  took  it. 
"Now,"  said  I,  shortly,  "  what  do  you  want?  " 

"  My  God !  have  you  not  heard  how  I  have  been 
treated?  I  have  been  cashiered,  my  estates  con- 
fiscated, my  name  erased  from  the  roll  of  Russian 
nobility.  I  have  nothing  left.  That  she-devil  has 
deprived  me  of  everything  but  you — my  dear 
Lenox — but  you  !  " 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  I  repeated  hoarsely. 

"  I  want  assistance.  I  know  now  she  was  not 
your  wife.  Yet  how  she  played  me  !  She  accepted 
my  escort ;  she  lured  me  to  fly  with  her,  from  you, 
as  I  thought ;  but  it  was  really  from  Russian  justice, 
and  ruined  vie !  And  what  recompense  did  she 
give  me?  Nothing!  nothing!  nothing!  Not  even 
a  kiss  !  As  soon  as  on  the  high  seas  she  claimed  the 
protection  of  the  Danish  captain  of  the  steamer, 
and  laughed  in  my  face,  and  said  she  hated  me  and 
all  Russians,  and  loved  to  ruin  them  as  she  had 
ruined  me  ;  and  that  you  had  been  her  plaything  as 
well  as  I.  Aha !  my  dear  Lenox,  we  know  each 
other,  we  appreciate  each  other.  You  understand  ! 
I  am  a  man  of  honor.  I  would  not  betray  you  to 
your  wife.  No,  I  do  not  wish  to  do  that,  because, 
though  ruined  in  money  matters,  I  am  still  a  man 
of  honor !" 

"  Though  you  would  have  robbed  me  of  my  wife. 
You  thought  she  was  my  wife  when  you  eloped 
with  her." 


MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 


229 


**  Ah !  that  is  the  way  of  the  world.  Every  man 
for  himself,  with  the  ladies,  my  dear  Lenox." 

•'  What  do  you  wish  me  to  do  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  This — simply  give  me  a  chance,  an  opportunity. 
I  have  been  cleaned  out  of  my  last  rouble  at  Monte 
Carlo.  Lend  me  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  that 
I  may  go  to  America.  It  is  a  haven  for  the  unfortu- 
nate. There  I  have  youth,  strength,  and  perhaps 
not  altogether  a  lack  of  finesse  and  ability,  and  am 
still  a  man  of  honor." 

Though  still  a  man  of  honor,  I  thought  it  safer  for 
my  married  happiness  that  he  should  have  no  chance 
to  make  any  embarrassing  disclosure  to  my  wife. 

*'  Very  well !  "  said  L  "  To-morrow  morning  I  will 
meet  you  here  and  give  you  the  money."  Which  I 
did,  and  he  has  since  departed  for  America,  where  I 
hear  he  is  now  the  enterprising  manager  of  a  Parisian 
opera  troupe,  and  flirts  with  his  prime-dofine  with 
as  much  recklessness  as  he  did  with  the  beauties  of 
St.  Petersburg. 

Then  I  returned  to  my  wife  and  sat  beside  her, 
glad  that  she  was  so  interested  in  the  music  and 
the  sight  of  a  beautiful  woman  in  a  box  opposite, 
upon  whom  she  had  put  her  opera-glass,  that  she 
did  not  ask  any  questions. 

A  moment  after  she  handed  me  her  lorgnette, 
and  said :  "  Arthur,  look  across — the  third  box 
from  the  stage — and  tell  me  if  that  lady  is  not  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  you  have  ever  seen  in  your 
life." 

I  used  my  opera  glass  as  requested.  It  nearly 
dropped  from  my  hands  upon  the  heads  of  those 
below  us.     The  lady  whose  face  I  gazed  upon  was 


230  MY   OFFICIAL   WIFE. 

Helene,  more  beautiful,  radiant,  charming,  alluring 
than  ever ! 

**You  know  something  about  her,"  said  my 
wife,  perhaps  a  little  suspiciously.  "  I  noted  your 
start." 

"Ah!"  said  I,  ''  she  was  the  lady  that  you  were 
supposed  to  be.  The  Russian  police  in  St.  Peters- 
burg arrested  you  in  mistake  for  hcrT 

''  Oh  !  what  a  compliment !  She  is  so  lovely  !  " 
said  my  wife.  "  Let  me  look  at  her  again.  Ahem, 
Arthur,  am  I  as  beautiful  as  that  woman  ?  " 

I  said  with  the  diplomacy  born  of  twenty  years 
of  matrimony  :   "  In  my  eyes,  my  dear." 

''You  know  something  about  her?     Tell  me." 

Then  I  related  to  her  the  intrigues  of  this  fair 
Nihilist  conspirator.  How  I  had  heard  that  am- 
bassadors had  been  compromised  by  her ;  that  she 
was  always  working  for  one  cause— her  own  revenge 
and  the  freedom  of  her  country.  I  told  my  wife 
everything  that  I  knew  about  Helene,  except  that 
for  seven  days  in  Russia  she  had  been  my  official 
wife.  This,  with  the  reserve  born  of  matrimony, 
is  still  my  secret,  though  I  have  fears  it  will  not 
always  be. 

Thinking  boldness  was  safety,  I  said  :  *'  You  know 
I  met  the  lady  in  St.  Petersburg.  If  you  do  not 
mind  I  will  step  over  and  say  a  word  to  her." 

"  Certainly;  tell  me  what  she  says.  I  am  anxious 
to  hear  more  of  her." 

Then  I  walked  round  to  the  box,  and  in  answer 
to  my  knock  was  told  to  enter.  Helene  was  there, 
a  Turkish  attache  bowing  over  her,  a  couple  of 
Austrian  officers  of   high    rank   seated    near  her,  a 


MY    OFFICIAL  WIFE.  23 1 

young  American  millionnaire  looking  love  into  her 
eyes. 

She  started  slightly  as  I  entered,  then  said  :  ''  I 
had  been  expecting  you,  Colonel  Lenox.  I  saw  you 
across  the  theatre.  The  lady  with  you  is  your  wife, 
is  she  not  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  I,  striving  to  fight  down  a  tender- 
ness in  my  voice,  "  but  not  my  official  wife." 

"  Official  wife  !  What  new  wrinkle  in  matrimony 
is  that?"  asked  the  American. 

"  That,"  said  Helene,  with  a  little  smile,  "  is  our 
secret." 

Just  then  she  started,  trembled,  and  looked  at 
me.  I  turned  pale  also.  The  strains  of  the  last 
act  of  "  Un  ballo  "  were  beginning — that  same  im- 
mortal dance  music  that  has  murder  in  it,  that 
same  floating  melody  that  had  surrounded  us  when 
she  fell  fainting  into  my  arms  as  she  grasped  for 
the  pistol  to  slay  the  Autocrat  of  all  the  Russias. 

I  stepped  out  of  the  box  and  wondered  how  many- 
more  men's  lives  and  loves  she  would  risk  or  sacri- 
fice for  her  revenge — her  patriotism.  What  would 
become  of  "  My  Official  Wife  "  ? 


Finis, 


"  Small  Boys 

In  Big  Boots." 

A  Story  for  Children  of  All  Ages. 

BY 

ARCHIBALD  CLAVERING  GUNTER, 

AUTHOR   OF 

"Mr.  Barnes  of  New  York,"  "Mr.  Potter  of  Texas," 
"That  Frenchman!"  etc. 


PRESS  NOTICES. 

"  It  is  novel,  vigorous  and  never  dull.     It   is   written 
especially  for  children,  but  plenty  of  grown-up    people 
will  find  themselves  capable  of  being  entertained  by  it." 
— New  York  Sun,  Oct.  nth,  1890. 

"  His  boys  and  girls  are  real  flesh  and  blood  creations. 
Mr.  Gunter's  book  cannot  fail  to  be  popular  with  the 
children,  and  it  bids  fair  to  be  equally  liked  by  the  fathers 
and  mothers  of  the  children." 

— San  Francisco  Chronicle,  Sept.  7th,  1890. 

**  It  overflows  with  humor,  and  is  the  best  juvenile 
story  book  of  the  season.  Every  boy  and  girl  in  America 
will  want  to  read  this  clever  work  by  Mr.  Gunter." 

— Davenport  De7nocrat,  Sept.  30th,  1890. 


Magnificently  bound  and  beautifully  illustrated  by  celebrated  artists, 

it  will  be  found  one  of  the  most  entertaining 

as  well  as  elegant 

HOLIDAY  BOOKS  OF  THE  SEASON. 


F^or  Sale  by  All  Booksellers. 


I 


UNIVT^T?' 


5oi(^^ 


